“The sower sows the word. And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.
“Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.’ And he said to them, ‘Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.'” Mark 4:14-25
God is sovereign Lord of His creation and crafter of divine intent. He is the supplier of seed, the creator of fruit, the manager of multiplication, and the engineer of His children’s spiritual industry. In His economy, He expects profitable stewardship of whatever He entrusts to us, which would yield a bountiful measure of glory to Him. (1 Corinthians 3:6-7)
But so many things stumble and distract us earthlings in our farming. Generously seed is granted: the living Word, opportunities to grow and share, the winds of affliction that strengthen us, rains of sweet love and sorrow that expand us, the light of God’s truth to raise us upward and direct our steps. Yet we complain of the rocky obstacles, fall away in faint weakness or complacency, or get entangled in worldly affairs that turn our hearts from Him. Repentance, commitment, and faithfulness would yield so much, but we join the many who have nothing to show for His gifts.
How faithful are we as stewards of God’s grace and gifts? When will we start to pay attention and do our part in sowing the seed? How will we till the heart’s soil- our own with genuine confession and surrender, and others’ with compassion and tenderness? Have we said yes to too many things, yet fail to profit spiritually in any? What can we or need we set aside in order to make the most of what is before us? What or whom are we neglecting that God has called us to tend? In order to bear the hundredfold, we must be a hundred percent committed to the Lord’s will and way. (Deuteronomy 28:12; Colossians 3:23-24; 1 Peter 4:10)
Father, establish the work of my hands and heart, that their produce exalt Your worthy name and bless Your people. (Psalm 90:17)
As the rain and snow 