I have been outside on my hands and knees in the flowerbeds pulling up Big-Leaf Maple sprouts.
Therefore, it seemed fitting to share the parable of the Sower. (from Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23; and Luke 8:4-15)
On a grey, overcast Fall day, the Big-Leaf Maple tree scattered its bazillions of seeds in a strong windy gust!
Some seeds fell upon the roof … and Squirrelina came and ate them all up!
Some seeds fell on the rocky gravel of the driveway, where there was not much soil. These seeds sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up the little seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
Other seeds fell among the grass of the backyard … and were mowed down by the lawn mower!
Still other seeds fell on the good soil of the flowerbeds … where they sprouted up by the hundreds to make a whole new forest of Big-Leaf Maple trees!
Jesus concluded his parable with these instructions: “Listen, pay attention, and learn!”
Jesus’ disciples replied: “But we don’t understand. What does it mean??”
So, Jesus explained: This is what the parable of the scattered seeds means …
When anyone hears the message about Jesus Christ and the good news of salvation which Jesus offers … Satan comes and snatches that good news away out of their heart! This is the seed which landed on the roof and was eaten up by Squirrelina.
The seed that fell on the rocky gravel of the driveway is the person who hears the good news about Jesus Christ and at once receives it with joy. But since this person is shallow and doesn’t have any root or depth, their excitement for following Jesus lasts only a short time. When trouble or hardship comes because of following Jesus Christ, this person quickly abandons Jesus and falls away.
The person who received the seed that fell among the grass of the backyard is the person who hears the good news about Jesus Christ, but the busy-ness of their life just “mows down” whatever they received, making it unfruitful.
But the one who received the seed that fell on the good soil of the flowerbeds is the person who hears the good news about Jesus Christ and understands it! This person produces a whole forest of Big-Leaf Maple trees!
Which person are you??
