Good morning Sunshines!
Today I was researching verses that reference farming and gardening for my next collection dealing with planting and growing and all those great spring things.
Proverbs 12:11 "Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense." and
Ecclesiastes 11:4 "Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest."
Both of those were good verses about taking action. The first talking about distractions causing us to not be as fruitful, and the second talking about fear causing us to not be provided for. Both of these could mean in the faithful sense, as well as literal.
I ultimately decided that Matthew 13 and the Parable of the Sower had the best overall lesson on what having faith really means for our lives, well because Jesus himself literally explained the parable!
3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:
“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’[a]
16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 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. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 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. 23 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.”
It doesnt get any clearer than that. We are called to not only hear the word and read the word, but we are also charged to SHARE the word. How this is accomplished will be different for everyone. But reading, understanding, studying, and ultimately teaching the word is what every Christian is called to do. Many, including myself, didn't think we needed to DO anything but be personally faithful and accept Jesus, which while that will save you, we must realize we were among thorns. We were distracted by this world and not living to our true fruitful potential! We didnt truly HEAR what Jesus has been teaching. Jesus wants our lives to be abundant and we can be filled by "producing a crop". This doesn't always translate to earthy riches understand, but trusting God will provide what we need. That is fact. Other parables share this same sentiment. The Parable of the Talents comes to mind
"For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." - Matthew 25:29
God wants us to use what gifts he has graciously and generously given to us, and multiply it. And do it faithfully. For the Kingdom. Not for earthly things. Dont let the thorns of this world distract us from what is truly important. And back to our title - Ask yourself:
What have you done in your life after hearing the message of salvation?
Are you among the thorns, struggling between the world and the Kingdom?
My rebirth happened with a simple question several years ago. Was there more than this? And I followed it up with What is my purpose? What is purpose?? How do I know?
How do you answer these questions.? Get a good readable bible, tab that baby, and get some special bible marking highlighters and page flags and read read READ! I cant stress that enough. Sharing faith and learning faith should basically consume your thoughts. Your likes change, your wants change, your goals change, your dreams change! And God makes a way. Make time in our busy lives to read the bible, listen to sermons, and you WILL see the truth. I promise. I never would have imagined I would ever prioritize my faith and my relationship with Jesus on such a level as this. I want nothing more than EVERYONE to follow and hear. Truly hear. When I am struggling, when I am weak, read the bible. My thoughts change, my patience changes, and any anger I held is wiped away. It will come back. We are human. But I know the solution. I hope this helps.
PEACE LOVE AND SUNSHINE!
Tarynn