Which Seed Are You?
Have you ever been to a meeting, class or conference where you expected to learn something, only to leave more confused? I've been to conferences where so much information was packed into a day that there was no way I could process it all. One session in particular was about how an autistic brain works. It was an incredibly interesting session and I tried to take notes as best I could; I wanted to ingest every detail.
It's easy to wonder if those presenters just spew forth their information to see who can pick it apart and make sense of it. One could wonder if it's a process to weed out those who don't really have a desire to know the stuff they're teaching...Perhaps they recite their learnings and if you don't pick up what they're throwin' down, then it wasn't meant for you anyway. Sometimes I felt as if I had picked the wrong breakout sessions at some of those conferences. None of what they were talking about made any sense to me at all.
In St. Matthew Chapter 13, I imagine some of the "multitudes" that were standing around waiting to hear what Jesus had to say may have felt the way I did when I tried to make sense of those sessions.
You may be familiar with verses 3-9, (if not, google it) The Parable of the Sower; seeds here and there, good ground and bad. I typically imagine in my mind, the visual aspects of the parable; a tall barefooted farmer walking along with a burlap bag full of seeds. He leisurely flings handfuls of seed as he walks along a narrow and dusty path, tossing them onto the rocky, cactus covered ground, as well as where the path was trodden hard. There are birds flying about, picking up as much of the seed as possible. Seedlings peeking up out of the dirt only to be blown away in the wind-You get the idea.
I would like to emphasize the rest of the story...verses 18-23. I'll try to keep it short. Here's a "BACF" version.
"If anyone hears the gospel but doesn't understand, and doesn't seek someone to explain it, Satan swoops in and diverts their attention and places new information, bad information where the gospel was initially placed on their heart. Alternatively, there are those who hear the gospel and receive it with excitement! They're joyful and happy to hear that they can be loved unconditionally and find hope in the cross! But they don't pursue their salvation and they give space and time for Satan to come and taunt them with questionings and cause them to feel persecuted so they lose their way. Then there are those that hear the gospel but they're so prideful and calloused they cannot let go of their sin: the love of material things, habits, anything that they think will bring them happiness. Although they may gain more riches or gather more "things", they are never really "fruitful" in their lives. They turn from the Word and try to survive by their own means only to die alone and confused about their eternity. Finally there are those that hear the gospel and dig in deeper. They ask the questions, learn the truths and find ways to help others learn as well!"
The session I attended about the Autistic Brain was fascinating to me. I didn't want the lesson to end as I soaked up every word, chart, image and diagram that I could. I didn't understand everything, but I wanted to learn more. I gained enough information to set me on fire! Energized with the new understandings I had received, I was eager to share with others and test my findings; which I was able to do. What a difference it made in my life and it made a difference in others too, as the "fruit" I bore grew in me and I was blessed to be able to cultivate it to others who also blossomed.
Understanding is a beautiful thing. It's not always an easy thing and that's okay, but don't stop trying. Especially when you are striving to understand the Word. Every time I read any part of it, I learn something more. More about myself, about others, life, death, forgiveness and especially love. There is so much love in this book. It fills you up with it and makes you want to share with others.
Whether you're waiting to sprout, digging your roots in or already full of fruit, be seated in good ground. Know you were planted for a purpose. You are important! Even if you're just starting to learn, share what you know with others. Someone in your path needs to know the truth- John 3.16 BACF "God loved us all so much that He sent His one and only son to be crucified: 'put to death by nailing to a cross for sins that He didn't commit-for OUR sins so that we don't have to be punished' so that whoever believes this can live with Him forever in Heaven." If that's all you know for sure, you are already ahead of the class.
Once you get your head wrapped around this, go read the rest of the chapter! WOW! Maybe I'll break apart the "wheat and thistle" one day..
