Most Gracious Lord, Your stories take something that is familiar to Your listeners and embeds a spiritual truth within them to teach a lesson. They link something a listener knows to something hidden which compels one to think and discover Your truth. The parables, as they were called, require me to reflect on what I am reading to discover what You want me to know. Your wisdom, hidden in each story, conceals itself from those who are lazy or not disposed to digging in to find the truth. Most parables have only one meaning or main lesson, so finding the truth should not be too hard. But sometimes when I read a parable, I do not see or understand what You are trying to teach me. That is when I need to seek the help of the Holy Spirit in finding and understanding Your message. It is like looking for something very valuable that is hidden out of sight. It’s just laying there waiting to be found.
One of my favorite parables is the one about seeds. My first inclination was to question why a farmer would allow his seeds to be scattered on a pathway, on some rocks and among some thorns when what he wanted was for it to fall on good ground where it could produce a bountiful harvest. Then I realized that Your story was not about an irresponsible farmer scattering seeds around randomly. He was using an acceptable method of hand-seeding a field by tossing handfuls as he walked through the field. His aim was to get as many seeds as possible to take root in good soil, but inevitably some would fall on unproductive places. That is why, as the seeds were scattered, some seeds fell on a pathway to be trampled under foot or be eaten by birds. Some seeds fell on rocks where they withered because of a lack of moisture. And other seeds fell among thorns that choked the new plants when they sprang up.
In Isaiah 6:9 you said that “though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.” That is where the Apostles found themselves upon hearing the “seed” parable. In trying to understand the parable, the Apostles were in the dark about its meaning so You explained it as follows: The seeds are the Word of God and the ones that fell on the “pathway” depicts people who hear the truth but the Devil comes quickly to steal it. The “rock” people are those who hear the Word but never get around to practicing what they have heard. The “thorn” people are those who are overcome with worries and the lure of material things and have no room left for You. And the “good soil” people are those who not only hear Your message but act on it. What I have come to learn is that the combination of faith and Your Word will always produce a bountiful harvest in my life. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
Luke 8:16 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed and nothing concealed that will not be made known or brought out in the open.