Mark 4

Mark 4:3-8 NIV

[3] “Listen! 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, so that they did not bear grain. [8] Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”

As I was reading Mark 4:3-8 I was once again reminded of the many levels of the Bible. This section is the parable of the sower.  Some seed falls along the path and is eaten by birds. Other seed lands in rocky places and is scorched. Still other seed lands among weeds and is choked out. Finally some seed lands in good soil and produces a crop.

At first reading I saw that this was referring to different people and their faith. As I was reading it today I was struck by the fact that at different times I am the different seed. There are times when the world eats me up. Other times I feel scorched and dry. There are times when I feel chocked by life’s worries. But then, there are those times when I feel very productive indeed.

I am trying to maximize these productive times by immersing myself in the word. Praying continuously (haven’t been as continuous as I would like).  And sharing my thoughts and the good news that God sent his Son to redeem us.

Mark 4:11-12 NIV

[11] He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables [12] so that, “ ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’ ”

Isaiah 6:9-10 NIV

[9] He said, “Go and tell this people: “ ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ [10] Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

Some teachings are hard and these two seem as though God is restricting those who will be saved. I am reminded of the saying “a man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.”  Meaning that he was never convinced in the first place. Our job is to share our story, why we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and believe in the resurrection. We can not convince others. That is the job of the Holy Spirit. But, we need to be sharing our story so the Holy Spirit can work in the lives of those we share with.