May 2, 2011

What do you make of this?

Matthew 13:3-9


"What do you make of this? 

A farmer planted seed. 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?"

It's seed planting season.  

Confession:  I wish I was more optimistic when I put seeds in the ground.  The truth is, I'm never really convinced that I'll see a harvest.  

I've got good reason.  Lots can happen along the way to maturity.  The seed has to germinate.  The plant has to grow.  It has to fend off diseases and predators.  It could be killed by too much rain, or heat and drought.  

Planting a seed is really an absolute act of faith.  

What if no one had faith enough to plant?  

We would starve.  God has so ordered this world, that seed-planting is essential to the human condition, and to our continued survival.  

Faith.  Seeds.  Kingdom.  

What do you make of this?  

Grace and Peace,
Adam 

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