The Sower

Earlier this month I preached on the parable of the sower, from Mark 4:1-23. I’ve been reflecting quite a bit on the parable, and its implications in ministry.

As a part of the message I gave everyone four cards, one representing each of the four types of soil – on the path, rocky, thorny, and good. It was a chance to evaluate our own lives, and also to think about the people around us who might represent the different kinds of soil.

In a way, the parable isn’t very encouraging. In fact, in the book of Mark it’s very much presented as a judgement. People had rejected Jesus up to this point (even accusing Him of being demon possessed!), and so the parable really explains why. Why so many people appeared to follow or at least listen to Christ, but ended up leaving rejecting Him.

And one thing to notice is that the soil never changes in the parable. There is no soil that starts bad and ends up good.

But there is good news in the rest of Scripture – hearts do change – and that is a miraculous act of God. And that happens.

And that’s why we can see people around us who seem to be “bad soil”, and we can pray for them, and keep scattering seed, and see God work.

This past weekend we had another team here from the United States, and also had David here from Calgary. Last night as David and I were walking from visiting someone to get to the English class, we were talking about the ways in which short term missionaries have an impact. Yes, there are teams out there who don’t do much good (and even do harm), but here we have seen wonderful fruit from short term interns and teams.

In a way, it’s amazing that any of us have an impact. Sinners, who don’t see the big picture, who often have the wrong priorities.

But there’s something we do have – the Holy Spirit, and His Word. That’s something that short term missionaries and long term missionaries all have. And we keep scattering the Seed.

We’re really just helpers. The Sower is Jesus Himself. And He’s still working. A lot of people reject His Word. But He keeps spreading it everywhere – on good soil, and on bad. And once in a while, amazing things start to grow!