A Nugget from New Life Network
(by Dr. Larry Ollison)
Scripture for the Day April 9, 2019
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)
Jesus taught the people through a parable (illustrated story) while at the Sea of Galilee. This parable was about a farmer who sowed seed into four different types of soil. Jesus said that some seed fell by the wayside, some fell onto stony ground, some fell among thorns, and some seed fell onto good fertile ground. The exact same seed was sown on the stony ground, by the wayside, among thorns, and also onto the good soil.
There was no variation in the characteristic of the seed. However, the seed sown on the wayside, the stony ground, and among thorns did not grow properly. The only seed that produced a good harvest was the seed that fell into the good soil (Mark 4:3-8).
After He taught the people publicly, His disciples privately asked Him about the parable. Evidently the disciples didn’t understand exactly what He meant when He told the story about the seed. He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables” (Mark 4:11), and He then explained the parable to them.
Jesus said the ones who receive the Word, but who are by the wayside, have it stolen immediately by Satan when they hear it. Then there are others who hear the Word, but because their heart is stony, immediately they stumble. Even though they are joyful when they hear the Word, the tribulations and persecutions of life cause them to become offended, so the seed never takes root and they only endure for a while. Others have hearts that are full of thorns. When they hear the Word, the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke out the Word before it has a chance to become fruitful.
But the good news is there are those who have hearts that are fertile soil, who hunger and thirst after righteousness. When they hear the Word, they accept it, and it bears fruit-some thirty-fold, some sixty, and some a hundred. While the amount of fruit produced varies, the one constant is this: a fertile heart always receives the Word and always bears fruit
(Mark 4:15-20).
How does this apply to us? The seed of hope is contained in the Word of God. The seed contains His promise of deliverance and His promise of restoration to those who will receive that seed into their heart. In order to receive the seed, you must believe in Jesus and accept Him as your Lord and Savior. As a born-again believer, you are no longer on the outside, but you are a child of the King. It has been given to you to know the mystery of the kingdom of God (Mark 4:11). Your heart is now good soil and the choice is yours on whether or not you sow the seed (the Word and His promises) into it.
