July 30, 2015
Seeds for the Sower
Yesterday at Walmart a man
came up behind a woman and told her that he liked the Ephesians verse written on
the back of her T-shirt and she said, “Thanks, I do too.” Assuming they were kindred
spirits she then asked the man what church he attended. He shrugged his
shoulders and with downcast eyes admitted he wasn’t attending anywhere at the
moment. Immediately the woman went into outreach mode and told him where she
worshiped. She not only invited him to church, but invited him to the Wednesday
night Bible study that would be convening in a few hours. I find it fascinating that Scripture stenciled
on the back of a T-shirt yields seeds for the sower. “As the rain and the snow come down from
heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud
and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to
me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I
sent it” (Isa 55:11 NIV).
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Gail;
-----You’ve just elevated my perspective a step or two. Every time I’ve read Isaiah 55:11, or thought about it, or heard it discussed, God’s Word is going out like seed. God’s Word is watered, germinates, sprouts, grows, as if it is the seed. But the way you treated Scripture as yielding seed for the sower caused me to make an unassuming analysis of this verse’s sentence structure.
-----”As the rain and snow come down…” is the object to which the subject, God’s Word, is compared. It is the rain and snow causing the earth to bud and flourish, it is God’s Word causing the earth to bud and flourish. Yet, it is still the earth budding and flourishing and yielding. “Whereas the aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith.” (I Tim 1:5) “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,” (Col 3:16) “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brethren, love one another earnestly from the heart.” (I Pet 1:22) “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.” (John 15:7-8) “Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls…he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing.” (James 1:21,25)
-----No wonder the Bible is so full of encouragement for us to shape our lives by His words and to be genuine in those shapes. The watered behavior of His people bring forth fruit of life, like every tree brings forth fruit of its own kind. Fruit contains the seed and is sweet to eat. Who is not attracted to love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control when we’ve experienced it around us? These things are influential and inspirational, and they cause people to reflect upon themselves and adjust somewhat. In a normal population, the fruit will pass around because of its delightfulness, and where there is the “water and snow”, the seeds it carries will take root and sprout to grow more fruit and seeds.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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