The Seed Is the Word of God
Posted by: forthrightmag <forthrightmag@...>
http://www.forthright.net
Straight to the Cross
COLUMN: FINAL PHASE
The Seed Is the Word of God
by J. Randal Matheny, editor
"The seed is the word of God," explained Jesus to the
disciples, who had asked about the meaning of the
parable of the sower (Luke 8:11). Every seed, given
proper conditions, reproduces after its kind (Genesis
1:11). The proper conditions for the word of God are
"an honest and good heart" (Luke 8:15). As the
spiritual seed which brings life to dead souls, its
primary quality -- its "kind," if you will -- is
"imperishable" (1 Peter 1:23). When an animal dies, it
is dead forever. When a soul lives because the seed is
implanted in it, it lives forever, because the seed is
the "living and enduring word of God."
Our Lord spoke his words about the seed to a large
crowd that was gathering, as people came from town
after town to see him and to seek some benefit. The
parable was a divider, to separate the curiosity
seekers and the selfish from the pursuers of God. The
gospel is not a spear that forces its way into the
heart, but a seed that must be received in order to
bear fruit. The parable contained the truth for those
who wanted to find it.
As he explained the parable, its truth served the
disciples, also. It warned them against attempting to
judge soils, but reminded them to spread the word to
all, for only in the sowing would the honest and good
heart appear. When they might be tempted to give in to
discouragement, after rejection, the parable would
also remind them that, somewhere out there, good soil
is waiting for the seed.
In another critical moment, Peter takes the word of
God as the seed. He remembers the parable when Jesus
spoke it that day, and how some of the seed fell on
the rock. When the time of testing came, those who had
initially received the message with joy fell away.
Now, years later, Christians he knows and loves are
being tested and are on the verge of chunking the
faith to save themselves. He writes and reminds them
of the type of seed that caused them to be "born anew"
(1 Peter 1:23).
If this seed is imperishable, and if this word is
living and enduring, how is it then that they can
consider extinguishing their zeal for God? A key
thought for Peter is value (see 1 Peter 2:7, NET),
what is precious. These faltering saints need to go to
the balance sheet and consider how much their faith is
really worth. The nature of the word of God as the
powerful, imperishable seed increases the value of
their confession.
The seed is the word of God. From a small seed, to
great and eternal fruit.
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