Today’s Devotion
Topic: Sow On, Faint Not! Your Seed Will Surely Sprout Up! (Self Assessment)
Background:
Jesus used many parables to explain the various characteristics of the Kingdom of God. One of such unmistakable characteristic of the kingdom is with the principle of ‘Sowing and Reaping’. Believers are encouraged by scripture to sow time, talents, money and the Word of God, among other things, to support the kingdom work and to help others and ourselves become like Christ in the process.
At times our efforts to witness of Christ to others appear to us as ineffective. Other times we naturally feel our contributions are scanty or even insignificant, compared to the prevailing need of resources required to advance kingdom work.
Well, though the above may represent our reality, the truth however is that the Word of God is a very potent agent of growth once it is sown. It does not matter the quantity or amount. So long as its sowing comes deep from the heart to honor God, because He is able to multiply our seeds and efforts for His own purpose and glory.
So now, the questions are: how do we keep our eyes on the great harvest to come even when we feel the seed sown was small? Also, how can we labour faithfully for the Lord without letting bad soil or weeds discourage our planting, service and witness?
For the answers to these questions and more, let us delve together into our study for today without delay. The Spirit of God longs to speak to us.
Text: Mark 4: 26- 29
26 He also said, “This is what the Kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain —first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” Amen
Questions:
1) As far as the Kingdom of God is concerned, what does it mean to sow seeds?
2) Verse 26 records that the man in question “scatters seed on the ground.” What is the significance of his method of sowing? Apply it to daily life.
3) Verse 27 explains that night and day after the man had sown; whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he doesn’t know how. Who then is responsible for the germination and sprouting of every sown seed? How do we apply this revelation to our personal lives and the many seeds we sow daily?
4) Please read verse 28 & 29 again. Describe the process by which a SEED sown sprouts up with time in systematic stages that we have no control of, except God. How should this motivate us to sow into our careers, businesses, churches, family lives and into other lives even if we don’t see immediate benefits?
5) In the case of evangelism, what lesson does verse28 and 29 teach after we have shared the Word of God to a seemingly “indifferent” individual or group of people?
6) What should be our attitude as we wait for the seeds we have sown in people to sprout up? Do we dig back the seed to ascertain why it is not germinating? Do we destroy or halt a godly initiative because it’s not showing signs of growth?
7) What does ‘the harvest’ in verse 29 refer to?
8) What have you learnt from today’s study?
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