Matthew 13:3-9
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop – a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear.”
Matthew 13:18-19
“Listen to what the parable of the sower means: When someone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Some time ago I heard author and pastor Lee Strobel tell a story from his days as a hard charging newspaper reporter who also happened to be an atheist.
He said that during the 14 years or so that he worked for the Chicago Tribune he was not only an atheist himself, but he knew very few Christians. When a junior reporter who was transparent about his faith in Christ joined his staff, Strobel went out of his way to make the guy’s work life miserable. Strobel admitted to openly mocking the younger reporter’s faith and routinely gave him poor assignments.
Then, after this was going on for a while, Strobel’s wife, who was expecting a baby, experienced a dangerous complication with her pregnancy. Strobel then recalled that the only person in his whole office to call or offer any care was the young man he had been abusing and mocking for months. The younger reporter called Strobel and simply said, “Mr. Strobel, I just want you to know that I am praying for your wife and baby during this time.”
That’s all it was; just a simple call to express concern and prayer. Strobel said that, looking back, that young man was the first person that helped him know the God he didn’t believe even existed!
Mr. Strobel freely admits that for many years he was a great example of what Jesus was talking about in this parable.
When someone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
His heart was hardened through pride and arrogance.
But all week we have been saying that the good farmer doesn’t give up on hard soil!
So how does hard soil get broken up? How does hard soil become good soil?
It seems to me that God the farmer uses two main tools to break up hardened soil; the brokenness of confession and the breaking in of grace.
In Lee Strobel’s case, we can see how God used both tools.
First, Mr. Strobel came face to face with a circumstance he couldn’t control, no matter how smart, driven or successful he had become. He was helpless. Sometimes confession happens when we simply admit we are afraid and need help. Sometimes confession is about the guilt and remorse over sin that we feel in our hearts as the result of the conviction of the Holy Spirit. But confession requires the death of pride and the triumph of humility. Through confession, the soil of our hearts is plowed and broken up!
Second, Mr. Strobel came face to face with a love that he did not understand; a grace that he did not deserve. The very person he had mocked and abused reached out to him with compassion and care. That young reporter was the face of Christ.
The combination of confession and grace shattered his defenses and softened the soil of his heart enough for the seed of the gospel to take root.
Do you have a hard spot or two in your heart? Is there some area of your life or relationships that the Holy Spirit has been trying to plow up?
Remember that God already knows your hard spots and has already offered you the love and forgiveness that you don’t deserve.
Will you invite the good Farmer to do his work?
Pastor Brian Coffey
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