4:1 Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 4:2 And he taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 4:3 "Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4:4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 4:5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it had not much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil; 4:6 and when the sun rose it was scorched, and since it had no root it withered away. 4:7 Other seed fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 4:8 And other seeds fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." Mark 4:1-8
4:14 The sower sows the word. 4:15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown; when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word which is sown in them. 4:16 And these in like manner are the ones sown upon rocky ground, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; 4:17 and they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. 4:18 And others are the ones sown among thorns; they are those who hear the word, 4:19 but the cares of the world, and the delight in riches, and the desire for other things, enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 4:20 But those that were sown upon the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." Mark 4:14-20
What is the first thing you think of when you hear these verses?? Maybe you think about where your seed fell when you first accepted Christ, maybe your wondering where to plant your seed, or maybe you are thinking that you know you are saved and are going to heaven when you die. Salvation is a serious thing, its definitely something to take seriously... yes, when you become saved you cannot lose your salvation but don't float throught life like it was never a part of you. This parable not only applies to your salvation it applies to your friendships too. Look and see what I mean...
Path - Maybe you don't hang out with Christian friends and you just heard the Word and want to accept it. You mention it to your non-Christian friends and they tell you that salvation is just a word. A word that some people take "too seriously" and that "you're a good person... you'll go straight to heaven when you die." have you heard this before? ever thought about this parable affects you?
Rocks - Maybe when you first hear God's wonderful word you take it in a live it too the FULLEST... but only for a short time that is. You act very Godly (which there is nothing wrong with) but you only have that "joy" for a few weeks. Later in time you revert to your own ways and occaisonly "check back in" with God. Have you ever in this situation? I have. I thought i was saved at one point in my life and i walked the walk and talked the talk... but nothing was permanent. Then later i recieved Christ and still have the joy i first experienced!
Thorns - Maybe you are sitting in church and God convicts you and tells you that He is standing at the door... cant you hear him? Just let Him in. But you "can't". Your sitting beside your best friend, crush, boyfriend/girlfriend, ect. and you are worried about what they will think when you are the only one in the youth that gets up to talk about giving your life to Him forever to an adult. So you sit there. With all emotions hanging heavy on your shoulders. Your popularity and reputation mean more to you than your eternal life. If God calls youshould answer. Don't let it ring and think about calling him back later. GO WHEN HE TELLS YOU. After all, he knows everything that you have done, what you are doing, and what you are going to do. Doesn't it seem silly to put him on hold?
Soil - Hopefully you are the person who sows their salvation and friendship seed in the good soil. You hear the word and don't care what your friends think when you get up to talk an adult on the day you accepted Christ. Your friends support you and got your back with every decision you make. You blossom with the Word of God by watering it (continuous prayer) and fertilizing it (reading the Bible). Your "flower" is unique and you make a statement no matter what "field" you are in. You make an impression on everyone you meet and through that flowers are springing up all around you. Hopefully if you are not in the soil yet you will make the choice to join the nearest garden. I did. And I will never regret the day I did.
I did this for our 8th grade girls bible study and it made an impression, not that no one was saved in the room (becuase they all were) but realizing that this applies to your friendships made them consider reading this passage over again. I hope it makes the same impression on you.
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