The Gracious Sower

Read Psalm 60

"When we face defeat, O Lord, keep our eyes on Your promises. When we experience loss, keep our hearts filled with Your peace. When we don't understand your plan for us, keep the cross of Christ always before us - the depth and breadth and height of Your love for us. Amen." (TLSB p. 905).

Read Matthew 13

When we study the parable of the sower we can rightly focus on the soil, or on the sower. If we concentrate on the soil, then we believers find ourselves encouraged to be deeply rooted in Scripture, to stand firm in the midst of persecution and tribulation, and also not to let possessions and money choke out our faith. Indeed, we should certainly be on guard against the Devil, against all his works and all his ways. We remember that there is a final judgment coming, which Jesus mentions several times today. The angels gather the harvest. The weeds, the bad fish, the unbelievers are condemned by their own works.

This is a good and helpful teaching for us, useful in instructing us how better to live for the Lord.

When we focus on the Sower, the message is all Gospel. Notice that he does not discriminate in the sowing. In fact, he is downright "wasteful" with it (humanly speaking), sowing even onto the path where it would not grow. We rejoice that God was gracious to sow his Word among us, and that his Spirit has given us life through them. We rejoice that we are growing in faith, and are waiting to be gathered up by God, to be with him forever.

In the mean time, we remember that as Jesus' disciples we are called to make disciples of all nations. That means that we participate in the sowing. We can learn how to sow by watching the Gracious Sower. We sow the seed of his Word to everyone, no matter how we might judge the soil. If we think there is no chance a person will believe, if we think they are too embedded in thorny riches to believe, if we think that they will not believe because of the ridicule they would face from their family, friends, or community - it matters not. We sow anyway. It even appears that we are wasteful with the resources God has given us, because we concentrate our efforts on reaching out to the lost, that is, sowing the seed of the Word to all people. We know in the end, nothing is wasted, because the ones that believe bear abundant fruit.

And we may be surprised. People we thought were like the path or the rocky or thorny ground may sprout and grow - roots at a great depth, fruit bearing abundantly. And, of course, we give the credit concerning our faith and theirs to God alone.

Ask Yourself:

Am I doing what I can to make sure that my plant of faith remains in good soil?

What can I do more to be a better sower of the Word?

Does the final judgment frighten me? If so, how can I better turn from sin and find confidence in the forgiveness of my Savior, Jesus Christ?

Pray:

"O divine Sower, keep me from becoming discouraged as I entrust my life to your Word and seek to share Your message of salvation with others. Amen." (TLSB p. 1608)

Study with me tomorrow,

Pastor Jon

Soli Deo Gloria!