28th April-4th May 2025
It all begins with an idea.
Several weeks ago, Chris mentioned a book called 'Scattering Seeds of Hope' by Jeremy Marshall. In it, Jeremy talked about knowing Jesus’ parables and relating the story from the 1st Century to the 21st Century. Encouraged to re-read Jesus’ parables as they relate to the nature of the Kingdom of God, it made me think, what is the Kingdom, who belongs to it and how people should live to be part of it. The parables are timeless, told in a different context but still addressing the human heart … how can we be truly human and live in a way that is free, compassionate and close to God when the world is pulling us in a different direction? Each parable reveals the heart of God and invites listeners to respond, to make a choice to live differently.
I've been challenged by the ‘Parable of the Sower’ in Matthew 13. It has also been referred to as the ‘Parable of the Hearers’ or ‘Parable of the Soils’. One of the questions the parable asks is - which soil am I and how am I receiving the seed that God is sowing in my life?
Matthew 13:1-9: “That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop – a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
The explanation follows in Matthew 13:18-23: “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: when anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
The ‘Seed’ is the word of God and the variable is the soil. Jesus is saying – it’s not enough just to hear the word, the condition of your heart determines whether the word grows and bears fruit in your life.
Written by Martin Spence
MONDAY
Seed that falls on the path – the unploughed ground
‘A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.’
As Jesus explains, ‘When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.’
Jesus highlights that the 'evil one' actively disrupts our process of receiving his message and understanding it. Just like a path becomes hard from being walked on over and over, a person can become spiritually or emotionally hardened from repeatedly hearing the truth but not acting on it. That repetition without response leads to a kind of numbness or indifference.
Hosea 10:12 challenges us to break up unploughed ground, saying “Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unploughed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.”
Heavenly Father, the living word, the source of truth, would you continue to speak to us. Please forgive us for our spiritual hardness, the times when we are distracted, proud, apathetic or too busy for you. Help us to live righteous lives by choosing to live in a way that reflects your heart for justice, mercy, faithfulness and humility. Please soften our hard hearts, we want to receive your word and bear fruit for you. May you give us a desire to read, understand and obey your word. We ask that you guard what you plant in our hearts and minds today. We ask that you prevent the evil one from stealing what you’ve sown. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
TUESDAY
Seed that fell on rocky places – lacking roots
“Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.”
As Jesus explains, “The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.”
How do I respond when I read/hear God’s word?
Is there spiritual excitement without long-term growth?
Am I actively developing spiritual roots?
How deep is my relationship with Jesus, not just my belief in him?
Isaiah talks about people who lacked roots, because they rejected God’s law and despised his word.
Isaiah 5:24: “Therefore, as tongues of fire lick up straw and as dry grass sinks down in the flames, so their roots will decay and their flowers blow away like dust; for they have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel.”
Heavenly Father, we confess the times when our hearts have been rocky, quick to get excited, but slow to stay steady. Forgive us when our faith hasn’t had deep roots, when we’ve faltered under pressure or drifted away when things got hard. Reveal hidden areas we’ve closed off, hurts we haven’t surrendered, habits we haven’t laid down or fears we still carry. Please develop our character, may our choices and habits reflect our desire to live for you. Help us to grow roots in your word, deep and unshakeable. Plant your word deep in our souls. We want deep faith, we want lives that can stand the heat, that stay strong in trials and that bear real fruit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
WEDNESDAY
The seed among thorns – worries of life and deceitfulness of wealth
“Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants”.
As Jesus explains, “The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.”
What are the things that occupy our minds and prevent us from thinking about God’s word?
Have I allowed the desire for comfort, security, or status to overshadow my hunger for God's word?
What thoughts run our lives?
We can’t grow the things of God in a heart that is overrun with the things of the world.
Jeremiah talks about circumcising our heart, cut away what doesn’t belong, in chapter 4:3-4,
This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem: “Break up your unploughed ground and do not sow among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, circumcise your hearts, you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, or my wrath will flare up and burn like fire because of the evil you have done – burn with no one to quench it.”
Heavenly Father, we confess our divided hearts and the times we’ve let thorns grow – worries, chasing success, distractions, greed and other desires that compete with you. Please show us what needs to be cleared out. Please remove what chokes your voice in my life. Rain down your truth in my life, may your word take over our lives. We ask for hearts centred on you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
THURSDAY
Seed falls on the good soil
“Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop – a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
As Jesus explains, “But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Am I truly listening when God speaks?
Is my heart open and ready for God to plant something new?
What kind of fruit is growing in my life because of God’s word?
Am I giving God’s word the time and space to take root?
Isaiah paints a picture of growth, which only happens when there is good soil. He tells us that God’s word is like the rain, and that he is always speaking. His word has purpose and brings life when it’s received into prepared soil. The word will succeed, but like rain it won’t force instant results, the fruit will come in its season.
Isaiah 55:10-11: “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
Heavenly Father, thank you for being the faithful sower. We come before you with humble hearts, knowing that your word is living and has a purpose. Make me good soil, so that I hear and understand your word, give me the strength and discipline to obediently put your truth into practice. Please use me to bear fruit for you, for your glory. Reveal yourself as a living God to those around me, blessing others and opening their hearts to receive your seed. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
FRIDAY
Jesus ends his parable with “Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
What kind of soil is in my heart right now?
Do I treat God’s word like seed – something that needs to be planted, protected and nurtured – or am I just content to consume?
Have I become comfortable hearing God’s word without responding to it?
Heavenly Father, we confess that other voices drown you out. Give us ears that listen deeply, a heart that responds humbly and obediently, and a life that bears fruit. Break up any hardness in us that resists you. Pull out every distracting weed and root your word deep within us. When we read Scripture, when we hear a sermon, when you whisper by your Spirit – let us not just hear you but follow you. Let your word bear fruit in me today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
SATURDAY
“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:17-18
James brings our attention to investigate what harmful habits we are still holding on to.
Do we come to read God’s word with an open and humble heart, seeking his voice?
Do we do what it says?
Do we merely know it or live it?
Heavenly Father, you have planted your word in our hearts. A word that is living and active. Forgive us for the times we listen to it but don’t live it out. There are times when we’ve been proud, distracted and not honest enough with ourselves to work out how to apply your truth. Cleanse our hearts from the hidden sins, the destructive habits that affect our minds. Show us what we need to let go of so we can accept your word. Something we live and not just read. Shape us into people of obedience, integrity and faith. Amen.
SUNDAY
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:21-22
Paul tells us in Galatians what good fruit is. This is not something we can force by effort or fake on the surface. This fruit grows when we’re connected to the Spirit and walking in obedience to God’s word.
Heavenly Father, you want us to be transformed into your Son’s likeness. We ask that the seed you have sown in us would have deep roots, bearing real fruit in our lives. We ask you to produce in us a harvest that reflects your character. LOVE that is self-sacrificing, JOY that is not dependent on circumstances, PEACE that quiets every storm, PATIENCE that trusts deeply in you, KINDNESS that sees and serves the good of others, GOODNESS that seeks what is right, FAITHFULNESS that stands firm and walks with integrity, GENTLENESS that chooses strength under control and SELF CONTROL that resists temptation. Father, this fruit is not about performance but about your presence within us. We ask you to renew our minds and transform our actions. In Jesus’ name. Amen.