Photo taken by Nellie Valverde, graphics made by Carli Valverde
Jesus Meant Us in This Parable
From Matthew 13: 1-9; 18-23: That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!" "Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."
A NOTICE AND A WORD OF APPRECIATION. Dear friends, Just to thank you for being faithful readers of my devotional thoughts. I write this to personally reflect where I am and where I believe God wants me to be. Through the years, actually since 1999 when I started these, I have won and lost readers; to God be the glory! I am thankful to God if a single word can bring a blessing to your life. My notice is that starting on the 14, one week from today, ConCafe will be very sporadic as I begin a renewal leave. These are recommended for district superintendents and it is my turn to take this time off. I will still be engaged in a daily devotional, just not sharing it like before. I may send out some "Classic ConCafes" to continue blessing those of you who are blessed by these. I ask for your prayers as I seek to read and write while on this leave as well as take some time with my wife and with children and grandchildren. You are a blessing to me!
Jesus shares what I believe to most believers is a well known story. Set in His context and shared to illustrate the challenges of faith, Jesus talks about a sower, a person whose job it is to sow seeds to help prepare for a harvest. The sight of a sower was a common thing for Jesus' day and so He hooks His audience by sharing this story in this context. Probably in those listening to this story there were those who had sown seed in their lives or had relatives who had or still sowed seed for their living. This particular sower sowed everywhere he went, and that also may have caught the crowd's attention. "Why, everybody knows a sower goes into a prepared soil not just haphazardly throwing seed here and there!" There was a purpose to that as well.
But seed was thrown along a path, some rocky ground, thorns, and good soil. The path allowed for these seeds to become bird feed. Those along the rocky ground became sun scorched seeds. Those along the thorns became things for the thorns to choke. The good soil brought forth grain in varying measure.
Jesus explains the parable to the disciples. The seed is the "word of the kingdom." The teachings by Jesus were meant to bring about life, growth, and change in a person's life for the better. The types of settings that Jesus shared is the type of reactions that people have towards this precious word. Keep in mind that this sower sowed everywhere, not just good soil. The seeds along the path are those who have heard the word but do not understand it. They do not seek to find meaning or an explanation for that word and so they are snatched away by "the evil one." The rocky ground setting talks about those who hear and joyously receive the word of God, but never deepen their roots and when challenges or problems come along, they lose faith and they're lost as well. Those among the thorns are those who seek wealth or are easily distracted by the "cares of the world" are choked by those cares and lures, and they yield nothing. Are we among those?
The good soil are those who have heard, understood, and borne fruit for God's kingdom. The harvest varies, but it is still harvest. Are we among these?
Jesus spoke the truth and it is hard to imagine us being among the settings where there is no harvest, but we sometimes are. The good news is that we do not have to stay there! With God's help we can become those who bear fruit for God's kingdom in our midst.
Happy where you are? Or should we move?
PRAYER: Loving God, move me to change where I am towards becoming one who bears much fruit for You. Let us never be satisfied where we are when we know we have much to do and many to reach. This we pray in Christ Jesus our Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
