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At about that same time Jesus left the house and sat on the beach. In no time at all a crowd gathered along the shoreline, forcing him to get into a boat. Using the boat as a pulpit, he addressed his congregation, telling stories. As he scattered the seed, some of it fell on the road, and birds ate it. Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly but didn't put down roots, so when the sun came up it withered just as quickly. Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled by the weeds. Some fell on good earth, and produced a harvest beyond his wildest dreams. "Are you listening to this? Really listening?" "Study this story of the farmer planting seed. When anyone hears news of the kingdom and doesn't take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person's heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road. "The seed cast in the gravel - this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it. "The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it. "The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams." (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23)
Great preachers, inspired by Jesus, will share great stories and then leave them with us and it will strike us, "He/She was talking about me!" Good, prayerful and reflective people may even say, "Ah, the problem is me! What can I do about my situation so that I am no longer a part of the problem, but part of the power?" Jesus is, in my opinion, the greatest preachers and teachers we can ever hope to study and emulate. He was well aware of the spiritual problems in His days, and the main cause was that people did not believe themselves to be part of the problem; many had given up with the restrictive dos and don'ts of the day. Worship attendance was not important for those who had given up, and now with so many listening, Jesus shares this powerful story of God's "Careless Extravagance" of grace. Jesus knew God wants a relationship with all of us, and will go to all places and in many ways, share that invitation with us. Many will hear it, but few will accept it or do anything about it. Many will say, "He's not talking about me."
Where do we fall in the categories Jesus used? Are you enthusiastic immediately, and then do nothing or abandon your enthusiasm when worries and challenges come? Or are you one who hear and then worry and grand thoughts come about other physical things, and you do nothing? Or, are you the one who hears and takes in that gracious invitation and then you go about doing what you know you should, and you bless God's work with a harvest greater than your wildest dreams? Which do you think God wants?
If you're still thinking about that, stop and be honest. What excuse do you know is just lame and serving nothing but to be a roadblock in your life for doing what God called you to do? Throw that excuse away and receive God's love for you. Let it soak into your very being, and then do something positive about it!
PRAYER: Loving God, I want to be part of the power at work for good in the world. I'm tired of doing nothing and letting others do what I should be doing. Re-ignite in my the joy and passion that will produce. This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. Do something for God today!
Eradio Valverde
