Take Care Of The Seed

The sower and the seed is one of the most well known parables that Jesus taught.  The seed is the word of God.  The parable is about the seed, and its growth.  It is all about the seed.  The Christian life is not about the person.  The Christian life is all about the seed, and how well it grows in the heart of the individual.  The fruit does not depend on our ability, or cleverness, or personality.  The fruit completely depends on the growth of the seed.  That's why the first encounter the seed has is with the devil.  The devil knows that if he can take away the seed that is sown in the heart, he can eliminate any fruit.  Satan's first temptation to Eve was to raise doubt about whether God had actually spoken His word to Eve.  Paul expressed his concern for the Corinthians in 2 Cor. 11:3 saying, "But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."  Wholehearted and sincere devotion to Christ is what we are called to.  The simple trust of a child is what we need in order to follow Christ.  The next thing the seed encounters is the need for moisture.  The seed must grow roots.  I was raised on the farm, and our farm basically revolved around rain.  Nothing could substitute for rain.  If it didn't rain, we didn't have a crop.  The survival of our walk with God revolves around water.  We must water the seed, and look after it.  Only constant watering can bring a seed through a dry season.  Keep watering the word.  Even a very dead and dry plant to come back to life with water!  "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase."  1 Cor. 3:6.  Then the seed will encounter weeds.  Weeds can be deadly to the seed if left unchecked.  The thorns come to choke out the word.  The thorns are described as cares, riches, and pleasures of life.  There are both bad thorns, and good looking thorns, but their effect is the same!  Whatever comes in our lives to choke out the growth of the seed must be pulled out and discarded.  Only those with a good and honest heart will see the full potential of the seed.  The seed can produce 100 fold if it is given the right conditions to grow.  God's word can produce in us a tremendous harvest if we will allow it to grow to fruition.  Take care of the seed, and the seed will take care of you!

How are you taking care of the seed today?