We better listen!

"Listen! A farmer went out to plant his seed. He scattered the seed on the ground. Some fell on a path. Birds came and ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky places, where there wasn't much soil. The plants came up quickly, because the soil wasn't deep. When the sun came up, it burned the plants. They dried up because they had no roots. Other seed fell among thorns. The thorns grew up and crowded out the plants. So the plants did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It grew up and produced a crop 30, 60, or even 100 times more than the farmer planted." Then Jesus said, "Those who have ears should listen."

(Mark 4:3-9) When Jesus says "LISTEN", I believe we all should listen. He is speaking to us today just as He was in Mark's Gospel during the early church. Jesus realized that not everyone will respond to His teachings (even one of His closest disciples did not get it). A lot of people will hear His words . . . some will accept it and repent . . . others will hear it and say they have accepted but never really change . . . others will simply pass it off as a good word and even some will attack His words. But He never said to stop sowing . . . to stop sharing . . . to stop living the Truth! We better listen! I just visited my garden this morning and my wife and I commented how the tomatoes and peppers were doing so well. Infact we received our first harvest of cherry tomatoes this morning! The zucchinni is blooming and the cucumbers are beginning to bud as well. The lettuce and spinach is not fairing so well however. Is it the soil, the watering, too much sun? The lack of yield has not discouraged me to plant more however and still tend the garden. It is the same with our sharing the Gospel. We never know who is watching, who may be listening, or who may be reading. We simply continue to plant seeds, water crops, and weed out the garden. Just as God grows the plants and brings a dead seed to life, He too calls the individual to repentance. He grows the spiritual seeds we plant throughout our lives. A seed of wisdom planted here or there . . . a shower of encouragement . . . a brief weeding session with a teen all . . . God uses them all to develop His disciples. We are simply farm tools used as plows, hoes,and rakes in the Gardner's hands! Are our hearts gardens producing fruit for God's use? Are our homes fertile grounds for planting? Are we using the tools God has placed within our hands? We better listen . . . and do as we are told! It is harvest time for the Kingdom Garden!