Friday, December 1, 2017

The Gospel According to Mark
Chapter 4:1-20

1 And he began again to teach by the seaside, and there gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea, and all the people was by the seaside on the land.
2 And he taught them many things in parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,
3 Hearken: Behold, there went out a sower to sow.
4 And it came to pass as he sowed, that some fell by the wayside, and the fowls of the heaven came, and devoured it up.
5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth, and by and by sprang up, because it had not depth of earth.
6 But as soon as the Sun was up, it was burnt up, and because it had not root, it withered away.
7 And some fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, so that it gave no fruit.
8 Some again fell in good ground, and did yield fruit that sprung up, and grew, and it brought forth, some thirtyfold, some sixtyfold, and some an hundredfold.
9 Then he said unto them, He that hath ears, to hear, let him hear.
10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve, asked him of the parable.
11 And he said unto them, To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things be done in parables,
12 That they seeing, may see, and not discern: and they hearing, may hear, and not understand, lest at any time they should turn, and their sins should be forgiven them.
13 Again he said unto them, Perceive ye not this parable? how then should ye understand all other parables?
14 The sower soweth the word.
15 And these are they that receive the seed by the wayside, in whom the word is sown: but when they have heard it, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
16 And likewise they that receive the seed in stony ground, are they, which when they have heard the word, straightway receive it with gladness.
17 Yet have they no root in themselves, and endure but a time: for when trouble and persecution ariseth for the word, immediately they be offended.
18 Also they that receive the seed among the thorns, are such as hear the word:
19 But the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things enter in, and choke the word, and it is unfruitful.
20 But they that have received seed in good ground, are they that hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit: one corn thirty, another sixty, and some an hundred.

Brethren:

We are all familiar with this parable. Yet it is always worth it to repeat it and read it, and remind ourselves as to who, and what we are, and what God wants us to be. We, are to be the good ground. The open heart which is fertile to the planting of His word, “the seed”, in order that we might yield a crop many times over the sowing of the seeds.

Secondly, we’re to become, ourselves, sowers of the Word of God, so that others might likewise hear and have planted within themselves that same Word.

Therefore, let us go boldly into the world, not allowing the cares of it to slow us down, or to cause us to fear. Let us sow God's word, whenever, and where ever the opportunity might arise.






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