The Spiritual Seed

The natural seed has within it the power of life, as well as the potential of growth and propagation. The spiritual seed—the word of God (Lk 8:11), is much the same. Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (Jn 6:63). Indeed, the word of God is “alive and powerful” (Heb 4:12), and will accomplish God’s intended purpose in bringing forth fruit (Rom 10:17). “For as the rain comes down…[to] water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Is 55:10-11).

In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus tells the story of a sower (farmer) sowing seed (Lk 8:4-15). The seed falls on four different types of soil which represent the hearts of men & women. The first soil “by the wayside” is unreceptive to the word. The next two, “on rock” and “among thorns,” receive the word but, due to various reasons, bring no lasting fruit to maturity. The fourth soil, “good ground,” hears the word, obeys it, and yields an enduring and bountiful crop through much patience and perseverance. It is this soil with which you and I want to identify. And it is this soil that we are most interested in when it comes to sowing the seed of the kingdom (Mk 16:15-16; Acts 8:4; 2 Tim 2:25; 3:16-17; 4:2).

Jesus explains that the good ground represents those having “an honest (noble) and good heart” (v. 15). When those who are good soil “receive with meekness the implanted word” it is able to save their souls (Jas 1:21). “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17). The spiritual, incorruptible seed—the word of God which lives and abides forever—planted in honest and good hearts, purifies the soul and brings about a new birth (1 Pet 1:22-25).

Of course, the seed will not be able to take root unless it is first sown in human hearts. This is where you and I come in. First century Christians, especially during times of persecution and hardship, “went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). They planted lots of seeds, preaching/teaching Christ wherever they went, and reaped a great harvest of souls (Acts 2:41; 4:4; 6:7; 12:24; 13:44, 48-49; 15:35-36; 17:11; 18:11; 19:10, 20) . We cannot hope to improve on this simple God-approved method today. Jesus said, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Lk 10:2). Will you be one of the few laborers willing to be sent into God’s harvest?

Terry Schmidt

02-05-17

Author: southmain006

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