January 25 | Luke 8:1-15

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DAILY READING

Luke 8:1-15

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REFLECTION

The Good Seed

by Judy Webb

“…he (Jesus) told this parable: 'A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.'" (Luke 8:4-8)

The Seed—Word of God

This story is an illustration of a farmer who is sowing seed for future crops. His seed falls on four kinds of soil with four different results. This seed is the word of God. The parable tells how we receive it or reject it.

How many of us have heard about God’s Word, but never truly experienced it? Some have heard it preached, but our minds, closed to the truth, never allowing His word to penetrate the ground around our hearts. This seed rested on the surface and was blown away by the winds of life.

The Seed—Word of Life

Any personal relationship with Jesus begins with a seed. It begins the day get violently knocked to the ground and brought face to face with the hard soil underfoot. Any seed that fell nearby bounced off this hard soil. Nothing could stick because of closed minds. Seed fell in this vicinity only to be gobbled up by birds or Satan’s vultures. Hearts were hard and there was no chance for nourishment for the seed. But then one day…a seed penetrates the rigid soil. Miraculously, A Word of life breaks through. A life changes.

Fruit—Results from good soil

The circle of life begins with a seed. Our faith and precious relationship with Jesus begin with a seed of surrender. Listen to God’s word, and trust and obey, then the seed will flourish. This seed, often planted out of desperation, when allowed to sink into the hard surface of our hearts, thrives. Tears of repentance and sorrow nourish this small seed. Eventually fruit results. Good fruit from good soil.

PRAYER

Dear Lord,

Open our ears to hear your words and to embrace them as truth. Good seed, and good soil, will produce good fruit. Let us ever remember this.