Planting Seeds

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” (Matthew 13:1-9)

Today is Plant A Flower Day. Although, if you're in Wisconsin, it may be a good idea to plant it inside for now. But another way to celebrate today is to remember we, as God's faithful, are sowers of another, more vital seed: that of God's word. Jesus explains the above parable in verses 19-23:

When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.  But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Now, when you and I sow God's word, we don't know what the soil looks like. We may not know the work the Spirit is doing in the heart of the one to whom we're speaking. But God asks us, nevertheless, to sow. Sometimes, we are prompted be direct about it: to come right out and talk to somebody about the love of God. But even with our lives, we sow. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 7:16, followers and false prophets alike are known by their fruit. This is a theme repeated throughout the New Testament, in fact. 

We are sowers, and the seed we scatter comes in many varieties. We can't know, always, the condition of the soil -- the hearts of the ones we reach. What we have to do is be certain of what we sow. Is it
love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness? Is it the word of Hope, and the Gospel of Christ?

If so, don't be discouraged! We won't reach everyone we want to reach right away, in the way we want to reach them. But in the hearts of some, there will be understanding. And where there is understanding, there is a crop -- a yield of many times what was sown.

It's our job to scatter the seed -- let God work with the soil.

NOTE: On another day, we'll talk about what happens next: the cultivation of a good crop. In faith, as in farming, scattering the seed is step one.

Just Another Day

Today is, evidently, Be Nasty Day. Or, as pretty much most of the world calls it, Friday. The thing of it is, there's so much vileness, meanness, wrongness, unpleasantness, disagreeableness, filth, obscenity, discourtesy, pain, and indecency already in the world, I hardly think we need a day to celebrate it. Just spend some time watching the news on any given day, and you'll get your fill.

Our God, of course, hates that stuff. Hates especially when His children are nasty to one another. Maybe that's why Paul instructed the church to concentrate on building one another up. We have, after all, an entire world to tear us down.

 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:29-32)

It's really easy to be a part of the problem. I should know: I've spent the better part of my life both professing Christianity and contributing to the negativity of the world around me. I confess I'm still better at sarcasm, cynicism, and insults than I ever was at building others up. So what's that say about me? And more importantly, what's that say about the church -- the body of Christ on earth?

Thank God, He has begun a good work, the renewing of my mind and the calming of my spirit. Through Him, I find joy in encouraging others, peace in finding whatever small ways are possible to strip away the film of negativity that surrounds our daily lives. 

In fact, it's God's desire that we look through all the junk this world throws at us; that we not be taken in and taken down by the nastiness we encounter on a daily basis. 

"Finally, brothers and sisters," Paul exhorts the church in Philippi, "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Philippians 4:8)."

There's a lot of negativity already in the world, and it can be tough to be a light. But when it's this dark, any light at all is a beacon -- a guidepost to the peace and goodness of Christ.

A God Who Hears

Today is Be Heard Day.

It's easy enough to say God hears our prayers. Anyone who prays believes, at least a little, that he or she is being heard -- Right? Well, as a matter of fact, listening is a deep part of who God is; it is an aspect of His very personality. Psalm 69 even gives Him the name Jehovah Shama: The Lord Who Hears.  

The Lord hears the needy and does not despise his captive people.
(Ps. 69:33)

And this isn't merely an incidental hearing. This isn't that passive hearing that's merely a consequence of having ears. God actually listens. It is an active, participatory end of the conversation.

Think of it! We are these tiny little beings, in the scheme of the universe; each of us one among 7 billion similarly tiny creatures. Each one of us seeks to carve out a special place in the world, we seek to be heard among the cacophony of others who also want to be heard.

I have four children. At any given time, there are at least two of them talking. Quite often, all four want to be heard, about four completely different topics, at exactly the same time. It's enough to drive a parent insane. Yet God sees and hears 7 billion people, each one clamoring for attention, all at once. The noise in heaven, I can't help but think, must be tremendous. But 1 John 5:14 tells us, 

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

Imagine! Every time you bow your head in submission to His will, you are given audience with the creator of the Universe! Praise God -- as small as I am, as insignificant as I feel, I can talk to my Lord, and know I am heard!

What's In A Name?

Today is Discover What Your Name Means Day. Most names have meanings -- unless you happen to have a Hollywood parent who named you something like Brick or Scooter or something. But in Scripture, names were inspired. The name could reveal something about somebody's personality ("Nabal," for example, means "fool" -- an apt description -- in 1 Samuel 25), or about his destiny. Sometimes, people were given a new name. Jacob became Israel because he wrestled with God. When Saul (of the New Testament) was confronted by Jesus and stripped of his pride, he was given the new name, "Paul," which means "little" or "small," a reminder, perhaps of his own weakness.

Names mean something to God. So when He sent His son to free the world of its sin, only the name Jesus - Savior - would do. God Himself picked the name and gave it to Joseph (who's own name, by the way, appropriately means "God Increases"). Matthew 1:21 tells of the Angel of the Lord appearing to Joseph, comforting him and telling him to stay with his wife. "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
  
Think about this from Joseph's perspective. An angel comes to tell you your wife did indeed conceive a child by supernatural means and that "You will name Him Savior!"  The name carries implications -- not only that this child would be a Savior, but that somebody needed saving. And sure enough, the Angel continued: He will save His people. Not from the Romans. Not from poverty. But "from their sins." 

There are those who believe they don't need salvation. Who revel in their own folly -- and then wonder why things don't seem to go right for them, or why they can't just be happy and content. As for me, I know I need Salvation. I know on my own, my sins would overtake my life and enslave me. I know because I feel in my heart where I would be without God, and where I in my humanness tend to fall when I forget Him. 

I need to be saved, and thank God I can turn to the one He named Savior.

Split Personality

It sure is easy to pile on the hypocrites, isn't it? Especially those self-righteous, supposedly-pious, super judgmental so-called Christians who dare to rail against what they think is wrong, all the while indulging in their own sins of pride or lust or gluttony.

It's so easy to feel superior, isn't it? To look on the hypocrite with something like a mix of pity and disgust and feel so good about our own piety? To feel, perhaps, pride?

Of course, even Paul had trouble with hypocrisy. "I do not understand what I do," he says in Romans 7:15. "For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do."

Another word for this in Scripture is double-mindedness. Like somebody with multiple personalities, we have two natures. One is an old, sinful nature. The other is the New Creation in Christ. These two selves can be at war with one another, even while the Spirit is at work in us, renewing our minds. 

The trouble with double-mindedness is that we miss out on the full blessing of God.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. (James 1:2-8)

Peter was double-minded when he stepped out of the boat to join Jesus on the stormy sea. Part of him saw Jesus walking on water, and knew that, in Christ's strength, he could do the same. The other part saw the waves and felt the wind. When we're double-minded, the human side wins.

Until we cry out to God and again give Him our whole selves -- just as Peter was drowning until the hand of Christ grasped his own.

When our eyes are on the world, we are double-minded. Split in our allegiances. When our eyes are on Christ, however, we allow renewal by he Spirit, and we become single-minded in purpose. Let the old, sinful self die. Don't feed it. Don't allow it any footing by taking your eyes off Jesus. Keep your eyes on the Savior, and your mind on what He has in store for you.

Taste & See

Today is Holy Experiment Day: we celebrate giving faith a try. Whether it's praying, or studying the word of God, or even joining a group bible study, today is a day where you're encouraged to "try it out."

While days like today are certainly open for both abuse and interpretation, Scripture itself suggests the same thing. "Taste and see that the Lord is good," invites the Psalmist (Psalm 34:8). "Blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him."

Of course, this is tricky. It's not as though God is a new car. You don't just hop into faith and take it for a spin to see how she handles. In fact, God has already proven Himself as trustworthy and good. Paul reminds us in Romans 5:8, "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." What we need to do, then, is to accept this great gift of Love. To recognize ourselves for who and what we are -- wayward children of God -- and to trust in Him to bring us home.

This trust isn't always easy, but then, nothing worthwhile ever is. If faith was as simple as deciding what we liked or didn't like -- like going to one of those pizza buffets -- it would be worse than useless. It would be about us, instead of about Him. But Scripture says, when we put our Faith -- our true, real faith -- in God, that trust will be rewarded.

So if it's not just a matter of "taking God for a spin," how do we taste and see? Romans 4 tells us we are, like Abraham, justified -- that is, made right by God -- through our faith in Him. Romans 5 reminds us that though we -- man -- brought Sin into the world, Jesus Christ bring Grace and healing.  Recognize the sin in your life. Give it over to Christ, who died for that sin. Willingly submit your life to the One who breathed it into you. And you will see that He is good.

World Day of Prayer

The first Friday of March -- which happens to be today -- is the World Day of Prayer. Because of this, I thought a repost might be in order. I originally posted the following just a few months ago, in October '12. But it fits well for today, and is, I believe, a good reminder for all of us.

Have You Prayed for Christians in Zimbabwe Today?

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (Eph 6:17)

Prayer is a funny thing. We are often taught, as we grow up, to pray. We pray for our food. For our night's rest. We pray, at those times, for our families: our brothers and sisters,  grandparents,  aunts and uncles,  cousins and friends. But strangers? 

All over the world, new believers and old saints face daily struggles. Sometimes, those struggles are of the kind you and I face every day: temptation, frustration, doubt. And sometimes, these Brothers and Sisters in Christ are struggling for their very lives. For daily bread. For safety. 

Ephesians 6:10-20 reminds us that we are engaged in constant spiritual warfare. This battle doesn't happen in a bubble. It doesn't happen at your church alone, or end at the borders of our community. It is a war that encompasses the entire world. And it is one being fought on fronts from your back yard to the farthest reaches of the globe, by men and women just like you and I. And in this section of Ephesians, Paul reminds us of this fact, and reminds us that we fight, not for ourselves, but for each other. "Always keep on praying for all the Lord's people."

How often, in my prayers, do I remember to pray for my family? My friends? My church? What about believers throughout the world, and the ministry they have?

When Jesus prayed in the Garden, we remember he prayed for His disciples. But, He said:

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,  that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—  I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17: 20-23)

Shouldn't we follow His example,  and be sure we, too,  are praying for our Brothers and Sisters around the world?