Mark 4:26, 27 - Sowing in Faith and the Spiritual Mystery of Sowing Seeds.
Mark 4:26, 27 (NKJV) And He said, "The
kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on
the ground, 27 and should sleep by night and
rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow,
he himself does not know how.
Mark 4:26, 27 (NIRV) Jesus also said,
Here is what God's kingdom is like. A farmer
scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day the
seed comes up and grows. It happens whether the
farmer sleeps or gets up. He doesn't know how it
happens.
Mark 4:26, 27 (NLT) Jesus also said, The
Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on
the ground. 27 Night and day, while hes
asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he
does not understand how it happens.
Mark 4:26, 27 (MSG) Then Jesus said, "God's
kingdom is like seed thrown on a field by a man 27
who then goes to bed and forgets about it. The
seed sprouts and grows - he has no idea how it
happens.
INTRODUCTION
Only Mark records the parable of the Growing
Seed. It illustrates the same truth spoken to
Nicodemus in regard to the operation of the Holy
Spirit (see John 3:8). In this parable Christ says
that if the seed of the kingdom is but given a
chance in the life, it will produce its harvest of
good. Men may not be able to explain how the
process of Christian growth and character
transformation takes place, but it goes forward
nevertheless. [SDA Bible Commentary]
God promises that his harvest will be
magnificent and prolific - the best fruit ever grown.
Your witness may be weak and your efforts may
seem to influence so few, but the Word of God is
a powerful growth agent. Keep your eyes on the
great harvest to come and don't let bad soil or
weeds discourage you from faithful service and
witness. [Life Application SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
Jesus teaches that you and I are like
farmers. One of our roles is to sow seeds. Most often
we do it without even realizing it. For
instance, a mother sows seeds by caring for her home
and for little people as she goes about her
normal routines. Those seeds take root and sprout
and grow in the lives of her kids. I see
evidence of this in my granddaughters' lives when
they cradle and dress their dolls in the same
manner that their mother cares for their younger
siblings.
A pastor or parent sows seeds of love for
God's Word. My mother sowed these into my life
when she sat at the kitchen table and prepared
her lessons for the women's Bible study she
attended. Folks who clean up after the church potluck
sow seeds of servanthood. Those who give thanks
even when it's hard sow seeds of gratitude. Those
who sit at the bedside of a dying loved one sow
seeds of compassion.
We don't consciously think about our
actions as sowing seeds, but Jesus says that's what
they are. He says those seeds take root in other
people's lives. They sprout, they grow, and
eventually they produce a harvest (Mark 4:29). We
really have no idea when or how this all takes
place. It just does. It's a spiritual mystery in
which our actions and attitudes play a part in
other people's lives, so let's sow seeds that
result in a harvest of righteousness. Grace Fox
Faith Step: Take one intentional action
to sow seeds of joy in someone's life today.
[Mornings With Jesus 2021 Devotional by Guideposts and
Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
The parable of the seed reveals that God is
at work in nature. The seed has in itself a
germinating principle, a principle that God Himself has
implanted; yet if left to itself the seed would have no
power to spring up. Man has his part to act in
promoting the growth of the grain. He must prepare and
enrich the soil and cast in the seed. He must till
the fields. But there is a point beyond which he
can accomplish nothing. No strength or wisdom of
man can bring forth from the seed the living
plant. Let man put forth his efforts to the utmost
limit, he must still depend upon One who has
connected the sowing and the reaping by wonderful
links of His own omnipotent power. COL63
As in the natural, so in the spiritual
sowing; the teacher of truth must seek to prepare
the soil of the heart; he must sow the seed; but
the power that alone can produce life is from
God. There is a point beyond which human effort
is in vain Only through the divine Spirit
will the word be living and powerful to renew the
soul unto eternal life. COL63-64
Thus it is in spiritual things, in the
formation of the character, and in every line of
Christian work. We have a part to act, but we must
have the power of divinity to unite with us, or
our efforts will be in vain. COL82
CLOSING THOUGHT
Last week I felt as if I accomplished
nothing. Interruptions and distractions kept me from
my plans. Like a fanner who has scattered seed
and keeps peering at the field for a sign of
life, I felt disheartened. What difference had I
made for God's kingdom?
On the same day that I berated myself on
my lack of harvest, a friend shared that she
had been encouraged by my e-mail to her. A
reader wrote that one of my books had made a
difference for her. My husband reminded me how often I
make him laugh. It was as if Jesus was telling me
that He is at work even when I am not seeing the
results. In His parable in Mark, He shows us that the
crops are growing even as the fanner sleeps. In
fact, even though the farmer participates by
planting seeds, the earth "produces the crops on its
own."
Our job isn't to see how the crops are
doing. Jesus invites us to generously plant our
seeds of faith, and trust Him to bring the growth.
He seems to accomplish most when we keep our
focus on Him, not results. I like to imagine that
in Heaven, Jesus will open a scrapbook and show
us the marvelous things He was doing behind the
scenes when we felt like our lives were barren
fields. I still ask Him for glimpses now, because I
find it so encouraging, but I'm gradually
learning that I can trust that He is producing
something of value in my life even when I can't see
it. by Sharon Hinck
Faith Step: Think about the most empty
field in your life. Tell Jesus that you trust Him
to produce a harvest there and thank Him for
that. [Mornings With Jesus 2018 Devotional by
Guideposts and Zondervan]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC
John 15:4, 5 - Abiding in Jesus Produces
Fruit.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200609-1008.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor:
https://www.revelationnow.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
