13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
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18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Matthew 13:19, 18-23
I am one of six kids and when we were young we couldn’t afford to fly on planes, so we would drive across Europe on holiday in a big Peugeot 505. This was before you had to wear seatbelts in the back, we would lay down the chairs and sleep while we drove. However, at some point early on in the journey, someone would always say the same thing… are we there yet?
This question had a way of driving my parents totally crazy. No! We aren’t there yet, we’ve barely got to the end of the street!
This is the question that I think of as I read this passage. Are we there yet?
It describes God as a farmer who pours seeds onto a field. Side note: what kind of farmer throws seeds onto rocky soil or paths? If I was the farmer, I would carefully only sow into the best soil. What an incredible image of grace: God will pour blessings all over your life in the hope that some get into you and you bear fruit. The test of the seed is whether it will survive the soil.
We can find ourselves stuck in the middle, feeling lost and frustrated. The hope that you had has not yet come to pass. So much has been sown and you are still not where you want to be. The battle that you were fighting doesn’t seem to end. You stepped out and now you feel lost. Or you have been wanting to see friends find Jesus like you have and they don’t seem to be interested.
It can feel like that car ride: I have done everything that I know how to do, I have prayed, I have followed what the Bible says, I have had faith and I still haven’t seen breakthrough. How much further is it? Are we there yet?
The hardest part of a seed is that you will never know whether or not it will be fruitful if you hold onto it. The opportunity for fruitfulness comes when you release it and trust it to the soil. The waiting is hard but if we can survive the soil, there is a harvest that will come. Jesus is clear on how we do this: we hear and obey. We remain consistent and faithful in the middle, before we see the fruit. Keep doing the right things, the harvest will come.
Reflect
- Are there areas in your life where you feel stuck in the middle?
- What does the image of God as a generous farmer mean to you?
- What does faithfulness in the middle look like?
Respond
Choose one area of your life that you feel has not been fruitful and pray for God’s blessing in that space. Then commit it to God and entrust it to Him.
Choose one friend or family member who you have been sharing Jesus with (or would like to) and has not seemed to respond yet. Pray for God to move in their lives and commit them to him.
