Day 6- The Sower
Read it: Luke 8:4-15
Live it:
If you read all of today’s verses, you not only read today’s parable, but you also read the part where Jesus explains the parable. I know that my explanation of today’s parable cannot compete with Jesus’, so I want to take a different approach to this parable.
I am in my 9th year of teaching middle school students, and I have the privilege of teaching a Bible class (which is my favorite). Each year, I have taught this parable, which leads into a discussion about sharing the Gospel with others. This parable helps with our perspective on sharing the Gospel. We know from Jesus’ explanation that the seed is the Word of God, and the different soils are the hearts or lives of those who hear the Word of God.
As believers, it is our job to share the Gospel, but it is NOT our job to save those with whom we share it. We can share the Truth in a loving way, a debating way, a condemning way (I don’t recommend it), a sly way, or even a bold way, but we cannot change the hearts of those who listen. We are not the Holy Spirit, and it is not our job to save others. As followers of Christ, we are called to share the Gospel and then allow the Holy Spirit to work in their lives.
If you obey and share the Gospel, then you have done your part, and now you need to allow the Holy Spirit to do His. Your responsibility is to share; God’s job is to save the person. If someone does not accept the Gospel after you have shared it with him/her, that is not on you; you have done what was asked of you. However, your job is not done; now, you need to pray that the hearts of those with whom you shared it would be softened so the Holy Spirit can move. Pray that their hearts will be like the good soil. They heard the Gospel. They held on to the Gospel, and now, they can produce much fruit. Continue to share the Gospel with those God puts in your life, but remember He is the only one who can save them.
Becca