Today’s scripture: Mark 4:1-9 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message)
As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.
My thoughts (E’sha Cooper):
I have never played any serious golf, but I think about 60% of the game is people just love playing in the grass! Well, if you’ve ever tried to grow any grass seed you know that a lot of work goes in to having a lush green lawn and a lot has to do with the soil.
Today’s lesson can be likened to starting a new lawn. The Master talks about the four different seed sowing experiences he observed:
- In the first example, as he pulls a handful of seed from the bag, some fell on the sidewalk and driveway by where he was planting. Before he could get back with a broom, the birds snatched it up, so no grass grows there.
- Then he throws some seed over in that part of the yard that was real sandy and the grass sprang up quickly, but once the days got hotter the sun burnt it up because the grass didn’t have an established root system.
- In another area of his yard, he wanted to get some grass to grow around the trees and around the fence line, but because the grass was in competition with the trees and the neighbor’s shrubs (aka weeds, if that’s not what you want growing in a specific spot) the new seedlings couldn’t compete so they eventually died off.
- But the part that made him so proud was the area where it was more lush and green then anything else. The lawn was so good that God and Tiger Woods could hit a few rounds together.
So what does this have to do with our walk with Jesus? Our hearts are like that new yard.
- Some people’s hearts are like concrete and asphalt. No matter what the word says, they can not be penetrated so life can’t spring forth.
- Some of our hearts are full of sand and too much drainage. The Word runs right through us, never taking root.
- Some of our hearts are like dirty fill dirt. Yes, we can hear the Word and start practicing some of the principles, but our issues are just as big as our faith, so our faith has no room to sprout out and grow.
- But thanks be to God, some of our hearts are like loam, the best soil type for most plants and vegetables. When we hear the Word, we are able to make it work in our lives to varying degrees and see fruit and grow closer to Christ.
Before you go to your next church service or read your next Bible verse, pray about your soil/heart and ask God to make your heart like loam, so you can be a lawn worthy of the Master’s golf game.
Thought for the day: When God plants the seed, will God get a lush lawn?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.