Where Is Your Seed?

I had read the famous parable of the sower a few times but never related it to myself. Last Friday during the cell study, we came across this story again.

“When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

“But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

“Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

“But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundred-fold, some sixty, some thirty.”
(Matthew 13:19-23 NKJV)

When Alan asked us if we wanted to share anything, I had the urge to tell my own experience of being in the “rocky people” category for years.

I had accepted Jesus as my Lord long time ago but I did not make a strong stand to follow Him. I was similar to someone who first joined the police. I liked to carry out my duties alone. At first I was so excited to wear an invisible tag ‘anti-Satan’ tag whenever I went. I expected evildoers not to approach me but I neglected the consistent training of listening to God’s word and the daily report of my performance to God. Instead of equipping myself with obedience, tolerance, patience, etc, I charged my heart with complaints, bad temper and bitterness. When facing a corruption offered by Satan, I easily fell into temptation. When coming under an attack, I was too vulnerable to fight back.

Being a bad example, I wonder if I was any better than my friends and family who were rather in the “pathway” category.

Slowly, I moved to the “thorny people” category, with backward sometimes. It was still some distance to reach the good soil, but I was determined to become a fruitful tree.

And I am pressing forward.

A sincere thanks to those who have never ceased to remove the thorns around me and who keep sowing seeds to me.