February 16, 2024

Matthew 13:18-23 (HCSB)
The Parable of the Sower Explained
18 “You, then, listen to the parable of the sower:  19 When anyone hears the word  about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path.  20 And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.  21 Yet he has no root in himself, but is short-lived. When pressure or persecution  comes because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age  and the seduction  of wealth  choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 But the one sown on the good ground—this is one who hears and understands the word, who does bear fruit and yields: some 100, some 60, some 30 times what was sown.”

Pastor HD Jones
The scary part about the parable of the sower is that only 1 out of 4 soils is ready to receive the seed. Which means only 25% of the people we meet will be with us in eternity.  But note that the sower is responsible to cast seed wherever he is going.  Does God have you around some difficult people?  Maybe their heart is hard today but it is beginning to soften to the things of God. See, we never know how someone is going to respond to Jesus’ call in their life and we also can’t predict how the person will react.  I just knew the Tennessee Vols were going to play a strong second half against Alabama like they had in the first two quarters.  Boy was I wrong.  It looked like 2 different teams.  Just because the guy/gal you graduated high school with used to be a hooligan doesn’t mean they aren’t ready to hear the gospel today.  Even if they do respond like you thought they might, don’t let that stop you from sharing.  The sower just casts the seed wherever they are… God is responsible for the growth.