That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.
Such large crowds gathered around him that he got back
into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.
Then he told them many things in parables, saying:
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed,
some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil.
It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched,
and they withered because they had no root.
Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.
Other seed fell among good soil, where it produced a crop –
a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
Matthew 13:1-9 – New International Version (NIV)
PARABLE OF THE SOWER
1. The more seeds we plant, the more we harvest.
2. Planting seeds on good soil produces good results.
“Let me tell you why you are here.
You’re here to be salt-seasoning
that brings out the God-flavors of this earth.
If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?
You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.
Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light,
bringing out the God-colors in the world.
God is not a secret to be kept.We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.
If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think
I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you?
I’m putting you on a light stand.
Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop,
on a light stand – shine!
Keep open house; be generous with your lives.
By opening up to others,
you’ll prompt people to open up with God,
this generous Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:13-16 – The Message
