Mark 4:1-12

Reaping What You Sow

Jesus is the Sower. He also is the seed. And the seed grows to yield good harvest when it falls on good soil.

The Word of God thrives in good heart. The hearts of God’s children are fertile soil for God’s word to grow and produce fruits. They hear the word, receive it with power (I Thess. 1:5) and produce fruits (Col. 1:6). Yet not we who work and produce but all because of God’s grace. God is at work. God is the great farmer. He prepares our hearts (Acts 15:9) to receive the word (like Lydia whom God opened the heart to respond to the gospel in Acts 16:14) and bear fruits (see John 15:4-5, 16).

Jesus told the parables to many people, but the disciples were privileged to receive further explanation. So are other children of God, who were chosen and appointed to bear fruits that are lasting (John 15:16). They too are privileged to whom the “secret of the kingdom of God has been given (in Eph. 1:9 the “mystery” made known to us ). Wouldn’t God’s children be ever grateful to be able to see, perceive and understand because they are insiders – “that they are able to turn and are forgive.”

Now, being recipient of God’s grace, having heard and understood God’s word, is the responsibility to pass on. And when we go and share the word, we know that some of it will fall on deaf ears and hardened hearts, there are those whom God has prepared to receive His words (like Lydia) and others who believed because they were appointed for eternal life (Acts 13:8).

Judgment day is coming and we will account what we have made of the Word we heard. Shall we receive more or even what we have shall be taken away?