Lenten Devo #26—A Sower Went Out

"A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear." (Matthew 13:3-9)

Jesus explains this parable to the disciples, and we get the inside view that was lost on the first hearers. This parable reveals what it is like when the word of God is preached. I mean it's more descriptive than prescriptive, meant to condition the disciples to the reality of what it would be like when they went out and preached the word.

And so it is to us for when we go out and preach the word. It's easy to get discouraged because the word does not seem to take root in people's lives the way we might want it to. Others seem to pay no mind at all. But Jesus said it would be that way.

And the really encouraging thing is that we don't have to land many seeds in "good soil" in order to get a good harvest. For "some a hundred fold, some sixty, some thirty." That's a good yield. And it's a boon for the kingdom.

So cast your seed, look, wait, and especially pray.

Who are you praying for today?