Many of those people who were living in Israel during Jesus’
time were privileged to hear Jesus’ teaching as He spoke directly to
them. Since He was speaking to fishermen and farmers, for the most
part,
He spoke in terms they could understand.
In Matthew 13: 3-23 Jesus tells us the parable of the sower, that is
- one who is going out to plant seed. First He tells the parable like
this:
A sower went forth to sow; and when he sowed, some seeds
fell by the way side and the fowls came and devoured them up.
He explains this parable like this:
When anyone hears the Word of the Kingdom, and understands
it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away that which was
sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
For those of us who are setting out to sow God’s Word in witnessing,
it is very important that we realize that a certain part of the seed
which we sow will not take root and grow. But here is the important
thing to remember - we cannot know or judge where the seed went or
where
it’s going. For instance, we can’t talk to a person for a bit after
we’ve sown the seed and say of our sowing, "That didn’t do a bit of
good." Are we judging by what we know of that person or perhaps by
their
actions while they were hearing the Word? Maybe we saw them yawn or
look
away from time to time. Maybe we didn’t get any "feedback" or comment
on
the Word which we spoke. Maybe our sowing was met with derision and
amusement and mockery.
Another important verse which we need to remember is Isaiah 55:11;
So shall my Word be that goes forth
out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall
accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper in the thing
whereto I sent it.
So, although you may not see or hear any results from the Word of
God which you have sown, you can be assured that speaking God’s Word is
never useless - even if the only person who is helped is yourself.
Another related verse we need to remember is Mark 16:20.
And they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord
working with and confirming the Word with signs following. Amen.
In the Bible, as it was being written, the interpreters added the
word "them", referring to what or whom the Lord was working with. But
in
actuality, the Lord works with His Word. All God wants us to do is what
He said in Mark 16:15.
Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every
creature.
In other words, "Go and sow the Word, I’ll take it from there."
So, we preach (sow) the Word, in obedience to Jesus, then we step
back and let God work with that Word which was sown. God knows who He
wants to receive the Word and He knows what purposes His Word is to
accomplish. All we have to do after speaking His Word is to believe
that
His Word will not return to Him void - that it will prosper in whatever
way He intends it to prosper.
As for the rest of the parable of the sower, we know that the Word
can also land where it cannot take root, or land among weeds where it
is
choked out. We would be so pleased to know that God’s Word always lands
on good ground where it can take root and thrive and grow, carefully
tended and watered by the hearer. But our job as sower is not to be
gratified by seeing God’s Word growing and bringing forth good fruit.
Our job is simply to sow, to preach God’s Word wherever we can. It will
take root and grow where it was intended to grow, even if it seems to
have fallen on the ears or eyes of an unbeliever.
As a believer and as one who witnesses with you, I encourage you to
go out today and simply share God’s Word. Even if the only thing you
know about the Bible is John 3:16 - share that and keep going. Keep
reading His Word and sharing that. You could start by saying to your
spouse, "You know, I didn’t really realize how important it is to
forgive until I read
this
1
in the Bible." Or you could ask your
best friend, "Do you know how to be a vessel of honor
2
for God?" You might say to your friend
at work, "I’ve decided to read my Bible more."
3
You might get words of derision or
unbelief, but you might generate a discussion concerning God’s Word.
In any case, be a sower sowing God’s Word. You have your Bible and
you have a World of lost people out there who desperately need the
salvation
4
of Jesus Christ and the healing,
cleansing Wholeness
5
which can only come from His Word. Now,
go and sow the seed and don’t worry about where it lands.
