Guard Your Seeds and Soil

Guard Your Seeds and Soil

June 23 Ride to Ellsworth on back roads

Matthew 13 …’A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil.  It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had not root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.  Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop- a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear…. In verse 18 he begins to explain the parable: when anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.’

            The roads we took from Orland, Me to Ellsworth were all two-lane highway back roads.  Many of the fields along these roads were full of large rocks. Norm and I discussed how hard it would be to farm the fields that had those huge rocks.   We all know that it takes good soil, good seed, lots of water and an attentive gardener to make a farm work and expect a good crop. It’s interesting to note that having good soil doesn’t’ just happen. The farmer must rid the soil of all the rocks and the weeds. Then he must till the soil under and many times has to add fertilizer so the soil has the ingredients a particular crop might need. Once he gets the soil ready, he then adds the seed and that is the beginning. He has to make sure the birds don’t come along and snatch up the seeds before they can take root. Afterwards he must keep the seed watered and the weeds and thorns cleared out so the seeds can grow.  Then he will produce a good crop.

            What did I see? The weeds, the thorns and the birds snatching the seeds are the distractions of the world we face all the time. They come along when God has planted a seed or revealed a truth to us and they try to snuff out or grab up the truth that was planted to keep us from bearing fruit. What do you do with what God sends your way as “seeds” of truth or knowledge? How do you protect them as your grow spiritually?

            Tips to guard your “seeds” and “soil”:

            1—Stay in the Word.

            2—Pray daily. Keep the communication lines open with the Lord.

            3—Stay connected with fellow Christians--attend church and get involved in small groups