Seeds and Sowing

Daily Reading: Mark 4

Scripture Focus: He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” (Mark 4.26-29)

Devotional Thought: I don’t always fully understand Jesus' parables. I often need help internalizing them. So, I appreciate when I hear how others interpret them.

This is what I take from today’s verses:

• God's seed is good. Regardless of what we do, planted seeds in God’s Kingdom are going to grow. God is going to see to that. We aren’t necessarily going to know how it happens. But, we know God is the one who makes it happen. Something else we know. God is going to harvest the seed that has ripened.

• My sowing matters. It may seem like we don’t have much to do in this process, but that would be wrong. In verse 26, we are given much to do. We are to plant the seeds. Planting takes effort. Planting takes planning. Planting takes time. From other scripture we know there are other things we can do. We can water. We can fertilize. We can help expose the growing plant to the Son. We can try to keep weeds out from our plantings. Let us plant ourselves firmly and confidently into the process.

Scatter some seeds today!

-John Wade

Prayer: Lord, thank you for all you do. Thank you for including us in your plan of salvation, both as being part of the harvested grain, and for making us sowers of your seed. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 3.1-8

1 O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; 2 many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah 3 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. 4 I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah 5 I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. 7 Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked. 8 Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people! Selah