"Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow." (Mark 4:1)
I'm sure you have heard it before, but the real determining factor in what has been referred to as "The Parable of the Sower," is really not the sower; it's the soils. Verse 14 says, "The sower sows the word." Each of the 4 soil types, however, is different. They all receive the same seed from the same sower. The difference?-- their handling of the seed. Every time through the Old Testament I note that many of the good kings had bad sons, and many of the bad kings had good sons. All four categories had the same "seed," which is the same "Law-Word," the same Covenant, the same God, the same opportunity as Abraham who, as Jesus told us, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad."
We are living in a day of blame, nothing new here, just seemingly highlighted by humanist who are always trying to justify their philosophy of life by looking for "good" people, you know, the so-called "victims," the innocent, the helpless, and "bad" people, the people who are the reason for all the injustices in the world. History reveals, however, that many of those whom they refer to as "helpless" have had an opportunity to change their victimization; that is what every successful revolution has been about. It is easier, however, to find the world's evils in the corporate mogul who is oppressive, unjust, evil, or, some race, gender, people group whom one can hatefully attack as the personification of oppression. I am not saying that there has not always been real victims and oppressors. But, "Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow"-------- among victims and oppressors alike.
"A sower went out to sow." The promises of the sown Word are for everyone, whether one considers them in the categorization of oppressor, victim, saint, sinner, white, black, male or female, corporate giant or worker. The issue is, What does a person do with the seed?!? I have wondered, If, "....Abraham rejoiced to see My day," why couldn't so many others, perhaps even all humanity? Skeptics love to ask, "What about those who never heard?" What about them? Jesus tells us that "the sower" sowed seed in practically every situation imaginable. Abraham did not have a Bible, did not have a missionary or evangelist who shared with him "The Four Spiritual Laws." Abraham just had a heart to hear The Word of God, to receive "the Seed" which Jesus sowed in his heart. Frankly, I believe that, "The Word of God," Jesus Christ, Himself the Seed, has been sowing Himself throughout history in places and among people of whom you and I may know very little. Jesus said, "Some fell," here and there. I pray for the soils.
Father, in Jesus' Name, help me with my soil. Amen.
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Unreached People Group: www.apfunreachedpeoples.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
