The Sower Sows The Word

Meditation: Mark 4:1-20

 

The sower sows the word. (Mark 4:14)

This is one of Jesus' most popular parables. In fact, most of us can probably recite it from heart. We know that Jesus told this story to help us examine what kind of "soil" we are. Am I rocky, thorny, weedy, or fertile? Does the word of God have a fighting chance to take root in my life? Or is something in me hindering its growth? These are good questions to ask, and they can be helpful as we seek a closer relationship with the Lord.

But Jesus didn't just say that we were the soil into which he sows the word. He also told us that we ourselves are the "word of God" that he is sowing into the world. We are the "ones sown" (Mark 4:16), sent out to proclaim his gospel with our lives.

That's quite a calling, isn't it? It's an honor to know that God is entrusting us with a treasure as great as the good news of his kingdom. It's also a challenge to know that he is asking us to bear fruit worthy of him—the fruit of evangelization.

How can we meet this challenge? Like the good seed in this parable, we can "hear the word and accept it" (Mark 4:20). It seems almost too simplistic, but these words tell us just how powerful the gospel is. We tend to think that evangelization depends on our powers of persuasion and our own courage in proclaiming the gospel. Surely that is part of the equation, but God has a very important role to play as well. It's his job to take our efforts, fill them with divine grace, and use them to pierce the hearts of the people around us.

So do you want to bear fruit for the Lord? It's simply a matter of making sure that you are planted in fertile soil. Stay away from the weeds, the thorns, and the other threats to your growth. Resist the temptation to try to bear fruit solely on your own power. Then, as you are rooted deeper and deeper into Christ, you will find yourself bearing fruit "thirty and sixty and a hundredfold" (Mark 4:20).

"Come, Lord, and increase my confidence in your power. Make my life into a living gospel for all to read."

Hebrews 10:11-18; Psalm 110:1-4

Use what you have

Don't waste a lot of time making judgments about what you have. Instead, put it to use.

Stop complaining that it's not enough or that it's not fair. Just get busy and make the most of it.

Fighting against what already is, will only slow you down. Instead, make good and productive use of what is, whatever it may be, and you'll find many ways to move forward.

If you wait until things are perfect before taking action, that day will never come. Use what you have, as flawed and imperfect as it may seem, and you'll soon be making massive improvements to it all.

Don't worry about comparing what you have to what others may or may not have. Just concern yourself with doing the best you can do.

Start from where you are, with what you have, and persistently do what you know you must do. There is no limit to where you can go.

Opportunity is Everywhere

There's no need to spend a lot of time looking for opportunity. It is everywhere, and every day more opportunities are being created.

There is always work to be done. There is always value to be created.

Instead of waiting for a new opportunity or searching for the perfect opportunity, go ahead and get to work. Make the most of some of the opportunities that are already here and now.

There is great value that can be created on this very day. There are problems that can be solved, processes that can be improved upon, and endless ways to be purposefully creative.

Opportunities are worthless unless they are acted upon. Choose to take the actions that will turn the best opportunities into real and lasting achievements.

Opportunity is everywhere, already, right now. Step forward and put it to work.

-- Ralph Marston