February 24, 2013

Mark 4:2-3
He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them, "Listen!  A sower went out to sow seeds."

In the first several verses of Mark 4, Jesus tells the parable of the sower.  A farmer is sowing his seed.  Some falls on the path, and is eaten by birds.  Some seed falls on rocky soil where it grows quickly, but scorches because it does not have strong roots.  Some falls among thorns and is choked out.  However, some falls on good soil and grows tall and strong, bearing good fruit.

Today, we are so busy.  There are so many things the world says we are supposed to do to be perfect parents, perfect citizens, even perfect Christians.  Children are shuffled from one activity to another, play dates are scheduled, and extra learning is planned.  Adults are exhausted by life, work, home, and family, not to mention all those meals which should be made from scratch with only natural and organic ingredients.  Your life is perfect on Facebook; you can do anything and everything you have pinned on Pinterest.  We are so tied down to these expectations, these things that give us the illusion of perfection, but do they help us cultivate good soil for the seeds God has for us?

We hop from event to event in our lives, going through the motions.  We do this at work, at home, and even at church.  This is busyness, not acts of intention.  We forget that these distractions are not our true purpose here, that God has a plan for us, the seeds for a wonderful life and a relationship with Him if only we cultivate the soil.

Have you ever wondered what God would pin on Pinterest?  What His board for your life would look like?  I bet He would give you peace and contentment!  It's time to stop, get into His Word, let it soak into your soil and your soul.

Play outside with your children.  Teach them about God's world, and not to worry about the world wants or expects them, or you, to do.  Make God the first priority!

If we do not cultivate the good soil for His seed to fall upon, we are just like the seed which falls on the path, in the rocky places, and in the thorns.  We bear no fruit and we die.  We spend our days consumed by the busyness, the expectations of the world, instead of the amazing plans God has for us.

This Lent, I challenge you to let this be a season of intention.  Stop and listen.  Join a Bible study or prayer group.  Unplug.  Cultivate your good soil for those wonderful seeds God has for you!

~Kristin Davis

Readings

Jeremiah 1:1-10

Psalms 24, 29 or 8, 84

1 Corinthians 3:11-23

Mark 3:31-4:9