MONDAY October 10, 2022 

The Sower and the Seed 

“...Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Matthew 13:3-9

Jesus explained the parable of the sower to His disciples. He told them that a person can hear the Word of God, but Satan snatches away the seed that was sown in their hearts. The seed falls away to the wayside. Another person may hear the Word of God, but the seed falls on stony places. Although they receive Jesus’ words with joy, the Word does not take root. These people last only a short while. When persecution and tribulation happen because of their commitment to Christ, they stumble.

Another person receives the seed of God’s Word among thorns. They hear the Word, but the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke out the Word. This person’s life is devoid of any fruit. Finally, those who do receive the Word understand it, and they bear fruit. Some produce 30, 60 or even 100 fruit in abundance (Matthew 13:18-23). 

As a child of God, there must be fruitfulness in your life. There is no such thing as a fruitless Christian. If you are fruitless, there is no genuine evidence of your Christianity. Jesus explained in Matthew 7:17-20, the test to identify a true born again Christian who is full of the Holy Spirit: 

“Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

It is necessary to examine your life in the light of the Scriptures to determine what kind of hearer you are and what kind of fruit you bear. 

[The Bible] warns us about “the little foxes, that spoil the vines.” This is a picture of the way “little” sins can destroy our fruitfulness for the Lord.
~Billy Graham~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!