Planting

Mathew 13:1-9 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.  Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.  Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “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 no 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.”

Jesus later explains this parable to the disciples telling them that the seed is the Word of God.  I was thinking the other day about Psalm 119:11. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. And I thought that a better word for Hidden, is “planted”.  Please do not think me arrogant to try to re-write the Bible, I merely try to paraphrase it in language I can understand.  I do believe that this word doesn’t change the meaning or intent of the passage. 

The Bible often uses the concept of planting, and its outcome harvesting.  Think for a minute about the outcome of your life, of your thought processes.  When we take a good assessment of our attitude and mindset it doesn’t take too much digging to find out what kind of seed we planted.  Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.  Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (But not just eternal, but divine life Zoe life, abundant life). 

Of course, you know When you plant corn seed, you get corn, when you plant alfalfa seed you get alfalfa, when you plant sunflower seeds you get sunflowers.  But when you plant nothing, what do you get?...

If you said nothing then you don’t know farming very well, because when you plant nothing, you definitely get weeds!

(One more quick question, what do you get when you plant bird seed!? LOL)

The issue we have sometimes is with everything that comes into our eyes and ears throughout the day, the one thing that we plant the least of is the word of God.  And often we wonder why we live such weak and powerless lives of faith.  We ought to remind ourselves of 2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

Hopefully this ministry is helping you to plant the right kind of seed in your life!

Prayer: Jesus help me to cultivate the soil of my heart to receive the seed of your Word and have it bring about a bountiful harvest in my life.  Thank you for your Word that you make available to me, for your Spirit that speaks to me, and thank you for your servants, pastors, teachers, apostles and evangelists who present your word and make it plain. 

Amen

Verse to Memorize and Meditate on: Psalm 119:11. I have hidden(planted) your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Point to Ponder: What are all the ways that a farmer or gardener works to assure a healthy plant and an abundant harvest (irrigation, cultivation, fertilizer, weeding etc.) and how does that apply to the outcome of the seeds of the Word of God in my spirit?

Apply it to your life:  Many of us pick up a newspaper or book or our phone or pull up a game on the computer when on our breaks throughout the day, what if instead we chose to read a passage of scripture at those times or a devotional like this one? 

Leave a comment below to share what God spoke to you specifically in this passage with others or text me back a question or comment.