Living LifeWise: Parable of the SowerSample

Recently at church, I found myself listening to the sermon … sort of. The message was profound, touching on some deep truths about God’s love and grace from the Book of Romans. But as I sat there, my mind was wandering. I thought about my to-do list, the work I had waiting for me come Monday morning and my family’s plans for the rest of the day.

By the time the sermon ended, I had missed most of what was said. I left the service with only fragments of the message, and those pieces quickly faded as I got back into my routine.

In the parable of the sower, Jesus first described the seed falling along a path. Seeds need good soil to grow, but the soil on a path is shallow and the birds eat the seed before it can grow roots. After Jesus told the parable, He explained it to His disciples. The soil represents people’s hearts, and the seed is the word about God’s kingdom.

That morning, I had allowed the “seed” to be snatched away before it could take root. The truth that had been shared didn’t penetrate my heart because I wasn’t fully engaged or ready to understand it.

God wants us to share and receive His truth in a way that honors its importance. We need to be intentional about hearing God’s Word, engaging with it and allowing it to sink deeply into our hearts. This requires setting aside distractions and making space in our lives to meditate on His truth.

Just as the seed needs good soil to grow, the truth of Jesus needs a receptive and understanding heart to take root. When we approach God’s Word with a desire to truly understand and apply it, we protect that seed from being snatched away, allowing it to grow and bear fruit in our lives.

Jesus is the Sower who shared the truth about God’s kingdom. His followers continue to share the truth today, and those who understand and accept the gospel become more like Jesus.

Reflect: Consider how the good news about Jesus has taken root in your heart. Reflect on what distractions might prevent you from fully understanding and applying God’s Word.

• Do you have trouble understanding God’s Word?
• Will everyone we talk to about Jesus understand and believe in Him?
• How can you fight distractions that pull you away from meditating on God’s truth?

Pray: Pray to be mindful and attentive when you hear God’s Word. Ask God to guard your heart from distractions that might steal away His truth. Pray for understanding so that His message can take root and grow within you.