July 24th: Luke 8:1-15

Luke 8:1-15

What always strikes me about the parable of the sower and the seeds is just how seemingly wasteful the sower is. He's throwing seed here there and everywhere! 

Those listening to Jesus first tell this parable would have noticed this too. 
But that was the point!  The sower didn't stop to consider how likely the soil was to produce a positive outcome, instead he cast the seed on all soil and left what would happen to happen.

Sometimes we fail to share the gospel with others because we just don't think there's a high likelihood of them receiving it and coming to faith. But we have no way of knowing what kind of "soil" people are!  God would have us cast His seed of the gospel here there and everywhere and leave the results to Him.

There's a great hymn by Martin Franzmann that is based on this text. I wish I could find a recording to share, but I can't! So here are the words.

1                   Preach you the Word and plant it home
    To men who like or like it not,
The Word that shall endure and stand
    When flow’rs and men shall be forgot.

2                   We know how hard, O Lord, the task
    Your servant bade us undertake:
To preach Your Word and never ask
    What prideful profit it may make.

3                   The sower sows; his reckless love
    Scatters abroad the goodly seed,
Intent alone that all may have
    The wholesome loaves that all men need.

4                   Though some be snatched and some be scorched
    And some be choked and matted flat,
The sower sows; his heart cries out,
    “Oh, what of that, and what of that?”

5                   Of all his scattered plenteousness
    One-fourth waves ripe on hill and flat,
And bears a harvest hundredfold:
    “Ah, what of that, Lord, what of that!”

6                   Preach you the Word and plant it home
    And never faint; the Harvest Lord
Who gave the sower seed to sow
    Will watch and tend His planted Word.