Take a few deep breaths to center your heart and your mind as you prepare to meet with God.

Meditation

God loves to speak to His people. Genesis 1 says that God spoke the world and everything in it into existence. Think about how the God of the universe is still speaking today and longs to speak to you. Quiet your busy mind and hear the creator’s voice.

Teaching

“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rocks. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parable meant. He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:

‘When they see what I do,

    they will learn nothing.

When they hear what I say,

    they will not understand.

Otherwise, they will turn to me

    and be forgiven.’”

Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” (Mark 4:3-20)

Words have power. Power to hurt. Power to heal. And some even have the power to give life.

Jesus’ audience was primarily made up of farmers, and this illustration was simple but intentional and powerful. Every farmer knows that the quality of the soil determines the quality of the yield. Good soil is only useful when it is tilled, opened, aerated, and examined–when there is open space, time, and opportunity. In this parable, Jesus is telling the people that the depth of their heart’s openness is the depth that these life-giving words will reach.

In my Bible this parable is called “The Parable of the Farmer Spreading Seed,” but I have also heard it rightly called “The Parable of the Terrible Farmer.” In this story, the farmer is not being careful or conservative but is actually spreading his seed indiscriminately on all kinds of soil. This does not produce the most effective result for the farmer, but it is good news for the soil.

Jesus never directly clarifies what the words of life are, but shows in verse 12 that if they knew who he was, they would turn to Him and be forgiven. In this, He shows that he holds the gift of life, full life, in his own two hands. To each heart that is softened to his words and is tilled to be open and take them in, He longs to plant something deep, meaningful, and lasting in each person. He longs to bring life to the world. 

Examination

Take a moment to ask yourself this question: What kind of soil do you think you are?

• Hard soil, where the word has never been heard
• Shallow, rocky soil, where the word has never gone deep
• Thorn-ridden soil, where the word has been choked out
• Good soil, where the word is flourishing

Now take some time to ask God to soften your heart, open your defenses, and sow the rich, everlasting words of life.

Memory Verse

Whether you need to write it down on a notecard, in an hourly reminder on your phone, or commit it to memory, find a way to take Mark 4:20 with you today, which says,

“The seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest!” (Mark 4:20a)