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A Call to Stand Apart
character like the life and character of God
Philosophy and secular
literature, no matter how brilliant, can’t do this. But when God’s
words are planted in your soul, they spring to life, everlasting life
Note that in the story the farmer sowed his seed. Jesus taught
truth because He is the truth. His own thoughts, character, and
life-experience permeated His teaching. And the same principle
applies whenever we share God’s Word with others. We can teach
effectively only what we have experienced. So before we share the
good news, we must make it our own by personal experience.
The story of the farmer describes four contrasting situations, four
kinds of places on which the seed fell. When the farmer scattered the
seed by hand, the breeze could take it in any direction, some intended
and some not. Jesus told the story so His hearers would understand
that the results are determined exclusively by the conditions into
which the seed falls.
Some seed fell on packed pathways. Jesus explained it this way:
“Some [seeds] fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.”
Matthew 13:4
, NIV. The seed that falls on the beaten path is a symbol
of God’s Word that comes to an unresponsive heart. There is much
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traffic on this path—sinful types of pleasure, selfish career goals,
worldly indulgences. Time and attention are completely absorbed,
and no attention is given to the words that bring life.
And just as birds are quick to see and feed on scattered seed, so
temptation comes to divert our attention and make us indifferent.
And if this reaction continues, soon our heart becomes like that hard
path where the seeds of the gospel were scattered. It is unreceptive
and calloused.”
Jesus continued: “Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they
did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had
no depth of soil. But when the sun rose they were scorched; and
since they had no root, they withered away.”
Matthew 13:5, 6
If you plant some seeds in your window box or a stone pot filled
with a little soil and mostly stones, you’ll see them sprout. But in
the heat of the day, if plants have no root system and can’t access
the nutrients and moisture of the soil, they quickly wither. This is
a symbol of the reaction of some to receiving God’s Word. There
is a profession of interest, an external reaching out to God but, like
the rich young ruler, they trust in their own good works instead of
