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www.biblegateway.com
Mark 4:1-20 (NLT)
Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed
Emphasis v. 10-20
Jesus Explains the Parable of the Four Soils:
10 Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.
11 He replied, "You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, 12 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.' (Isaiah 6:9,10)
13 Then Jesus said to them, "If you can't understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? 14 The farmer plants seed by taking God's word to others. 15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. 16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 17 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. 18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God's word, 19 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. 20 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!"
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So Jesus explained the parable to His disciples: the four soils represent four different ways people respond to God's Word. Usually we apply this specifically to 4 different kinds of people. But Jesus may also have been talking about (1) different times of phases in a person's life or (2) how we willingly apply God's Word to some areas of our life but resist applying it to others. For example, you may be open to God about your future (good soil), but closed concerning how you spend your money and/or tithe (path with the birds). You may respond like good soil to God's demand for worship but respond like rocky soil to His demand to give to people in need, forgive, refrain from sex outside of marriage. You may often respond like the soil with thrones when the cares of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for nice things plague you. How easy it is for our daily routines to become overcrowded. A life packed with materialistic pursuits, or even noble but erroneous intentions deafens us to God's Word. Stay free so you can hear God when He speaks. And strive to be like good soil in every area of your life at all times.
So here is the question again:
TGN HAS BEEN THE FARMER (for most of you, for over 2 years- "wow!")- (AS OF TODAY) WHICH ARE YOU (1) THE PATH WITH THE BIRDS, (2) ROCKY PLACES, (3) AMONG THRONS, OR (4) GOOD SOIL.
Be honest with yourself; once you are, actions can change and your results in life will be different. If you're open to sharing- want to talk about it, pray about it; please feel free to reply.
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Let this lead you in your own personal prayer:
MICAH 6:8 "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
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Resources: biblegateway.com, NIV Women's Devotional Bible- Classic Edition, and Life Application Study Bible.
www.thegoodnews4yourlife.blogspot.com "Providing you with what you already have access to in the most convenient way. So that we all can continue to grow in wisdom & understanding of God." LT
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