A Sower Went Out to Sow
by Judy Wallace
I was a new, young bride totally clueless about what it meant to be a farmer’s wife. My dad was always home for dinner by 5:30 PM so I figured my hubby would be too. I was wrong. My first stab at a home cooked meal was ready at 5:30. My farmer came home at 9:00!
Many long hours were involved in making a crop, most of which were spent in preparing the soil to accept the seed. First there was plowing. Reaching deep into the soil, the plow would bring up clods and chunks that would have to be removed. Next came the discing that broke up the clods while the chunks often had to be removed by hand. Sometimes chemicals were used to either kill weeds or fertilize the soil. This could be done with a spray coop or by crop dusters. Finally, the do-it-all would be run over the field to smooth it all down and get the field ready for the planter.
In earlier blogs I have shared about being ‘seed flingers.’ Everywhere we go we can and should display a countenance of joy and peace. These two attributes are sorely missing in our world today so when we exhibit these, people take notice. Try walking through Walmart smiling all the way! You will be surprised at how many smile back. Even that small gesture can open up conversations that could lead to deeper interaction.
But let’s more closely examine preparing the field. The Greatest Teacher of all, Jesus Christ, gave us the analogy of differing soils. He even revealed to us that only one fourth of those who are exposed to the seed would respond in a positive way. So the soil and farming analogies both give us insight that the ‘go and tell’ commandment of Jesus may include long term, intentional relationships that require prepping the soil.
Pray for a field. The fields we are used to are more like lush meadows with beautiful flowers; they’re our Christian friends and liked minded folk that already know Jesus as their Savior. That’s where we like to put in our time and effort. But we must go into the highways and hedges where the weeds grow and the clods and chunks are obvious. These people may not be ready for the Roman Road the Four Spiritual Laws, or the Evangelism Explosion hand. They need to see Jesus! They need to know Who God is and all that He has done for them.
A sower went out to sow. He didn’t arise and wonder what his task was for that day…he knew he was to sow and he knew what it involved. We know what the task is for our life…GO AND TELL! We might not feel prepared but if we are determined to obey His commands, we will by faith know that what He calls us to do He will equip us to do it!
Scriptures: Proverbs 11:30; Luke 14:23; John 14:21; Hosea 10:12 [Sometimes we are the ones with the clods and chunks that need to be removed in our own lives]
Response:
1. Truly realize that you are a sower that has been sent out to sow
2. Determine to be a seed flinger wherever you go
3. Earnestly pray for a field…a person with which you can build a relationship to show and tell them about life in Christ
4. Obey when He answers that prayer
Prayer: Father I write out of the conviction of my own heart that this is what I am to be doing. Open my eyes to someone that I am to build a relationship with for the very purpose of leading them to You.
