Behold a sower went forth again to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the well-worn path. Knowing the vulnerability of the seed to the birds, the sower broke the hardened ground to enable the seed to grow. The birds came to search for food and found nothing there.
Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil. Knowing the vulnerability of the plant to the scorching sun, the sower dug out the rocks to deepen the roots. The seeds sprang up, but only when the roots went down. And when the sun had risen, the deep roots nourished the plant with life and strength.
Others fell among the thorns. Knowing the vulnerability of the plant to be choked and fruitless because of the thorns, the sower diligently weeded the field.
And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. Knowing the potential of the seed to multiply, the sower ruthlessly pruned the plant to make it even more fruitful.
He who has ears, let him hear.
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Hear now the second parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. To see the word of the kingdom produce fruit, the Father must break the hardened heart – those places of resistance that stubbornly insist on going your own way.
The one on whom the seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. But to produce fruit, the Father knows the need for the heart to be deeply rooted in steadfast faith and solid commitment. So He gently leads His child past the whims of emotions toward a point of settled devotion.
The one on whom the seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, but is tempted to give as much attention to the worries of this world and the deceitfulness of wealth as he is to the truth of the Kingdom. The Father understands that to produce fruit, His child must be single-minded and pure-hearted. So He lovingly, but stubbornly removes those things the choke the fruitfulness of His children.
And the one on whom the seed was sown on good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it, and indeed bears fruit. But rather than allow for complacency, the Father prunes him to make him even more fruitful.
Brokenness, depth, purity and multiplication. These are the ways of the Sower of the Heart.
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Andy Wood is a professional Christian speaker, author, teacher, and executive coach. He helps leaders and professionals multiply their results without sacrificing what matters most. For more information about how he can help you fulfill your purpose, increase your performance, or serve your people, email him at [email protected].
The drum beats are pretty simple in and of themselves.
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