The Parable of the Sower
Again Jesus began to teach by the lake (v1). He taught them many things by parables (v2). This was an all too common practice of Jesus, to teach in mysteries and share parables that would confuse or cause disinterest in the superficial followers. A parable is an allegorical story designed to reveal truths about God, morality, or Heaven. In this case, it reveals how the word of God is planted among the people. Scattered everywhere as to be received by all possible people, the word of God is not biased nor is its purpose for the church setting, it is for all places at all times. But not everyone will receive the word openly, even for those who do, it may not ever produce fruit. As we see in the seed that fell on the path...
The first seed
"Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them." Mark 4:15
Take note, that the Devil wastes no time and has an unquenchable hunger for all truth spoken into the hearts of man. If we all understood truth fully we would all reject the devil and his schemes. But as it is he remains quick to swoop in like the fowl of the air and consume whatever good knowledge of God we may acquire.
Application:
Christianity by definition is not a religion; it is a relationship with God. Religion is full of things you must do to climb your way up the spiritual latter as it were and earn favor with God. Christianity says, God has found favor with us because of our faith, and through that we are reconciled to Him. I, however, find myself in a inner battle struggling with my own tendency to be 'religious'. To do the right things trying to earn God's favor, or more commonly to simply get them done with. I find this disturbing and most commonly arising in my time reading God's word. I find myself reading the pages and closing the book, only to get it out of the way, and i learn nothing. Whatever truth i may have otherwise profited much, i have now fed to the fowls. The word of God became dead letters in an empty book when i skimmed the pages to satisfy so false a sense of a good deed; my gain was nothing. However, when seeking God to know Him better and to be more deeply involved with Him, i found the word alive and full of truth. This is the lesson for me to walk away with, God's word is a sword, it should be well prepared and handled properly.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does." James 1:22-25
No comments:
Post a Comment