Matthew 13:23 New International Version (NIV) 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.”
A few weeks ago, Mick and I spread Bermuda seed around the site of the new Point of Grace driveway at the North end of our property. The ground was extremely muddy from the recent rains and caked up on our shoes. There was even a huge storm that evening, so the seed got plenty of rain. It has even rained several times since then. But so far, we have not seen any new grass sprouting.
We did not rake or till the soil. We could not water, other than what God has provided, because there is no water at that end of our property. We spread the Bermuda seed and left it, and so far-no results!
This verse reminds me of our spreading the grass seed. I must read the word, hear the word and understand the word. If I really pay attention to His teachings, I will grow and in turn spread more seeds for others to grow. The passage doesn’t say what is good soil, or that it won’t be rocky or full of thorns/obstacles. It doesn’t even say how long it will take to produce a crop. It doesn’t even explain why the crop might “yield a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
God, if I am receptive to His Word, determines the yield and the fruit that I bear on His time table, not mine. God provides the seed, I am responsible to hear it, receive it, understand it and then distribute it throughout His kingdom.
I could be discouraged that the grass seed that Mick and I distributed hasn’t grown. Or, I could be encouraged that the seeds are maturing and just can’t be seen visibly yet. How do I know that my work was fruitless? How do any of us know that the people that we come into contact with daily haven’t been touched by our love for Jesus Christ?
Mick & I planted the seeds. You and I can plant seeds as we go about our daily lives. We may not see the grass growing now, or as fast as we want it to grow. We may not think that we are making a difference in people’s lives today. But give it time! God can do wonders with us, and the people we come into contact with, on His time table-not ours. Our job is to be receptive, understand and spread the Word and then let God takeover!
Dear Lord help me to be more receptive to Your Word. Help me to spread Your Word to each person I come into contact with. Help me to not be discouraged when I don’t see or get the results that I want immediately. Help me to remember that it is my job to help spread the seeds and Your job to grow, mature and multiply the crop on Your timetable and according to Your plan.
Amen
Jerry