Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Seeds of Faith

Photo by Stephen Ray

“Once there was a man who went out to sow grain. As he scattered the seed in the field, some of it fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some of it fell on rocky ground, where there was little soil. The seeds soon sprouted, because the soil wasn't deep. But when the sun came up, it burned the young plants; and because the roots had not grown deep enough, the plants soon dried up. Some of the seed fell among thorn bushes, which grew up and choked the plants. But some seeds fell in good soil, and the plants bore grain: some had one hundred grains, others sixty, and others thirty.”
Matthew 13:3-8

Which seed am I? As I read the parable of the sower, I realized that at one time or another my faith has been like each of those seeds.

In elementary school I went over to the fire hall after school on Wednesdays for Good News Club. I remember signing a “decision” card (like the one in the photo) saying I “received Christ” on a particular date. To be truthful, I had no idea what that meant and therefore never followed through on it. At that time my faith was like the seed that the birds immediately ate up.

As a teenager, I attended Confirmation classes for three years, and was immersed in the folk mass movement of the late sixties. However, I kept my faith on the surface, never allowing it to really sink in. The seeds of faith planted during those years never really took root.

What are the weeds of my life that choke out faith? Material possessions can sap my time and energy—houses require cleaning, clothes must be washed, meals need prepared, computers and phones entail upgrades, etc, etc.

Relationship drama can get a strangle hold on me—drama between co-workers, family members, friends, church members, team players, etc.

And then there are my emotional needs that crowd in—the need to be accepted, to be liked, to be needed, to be wanted, to be affirmed, to be appreciated, to be recognized.
If I let them, these things can squeeze the life out of my relationship with God.

But many seeds of faith have taken root and grown and produced more seeds. There is nothing quite as exciting as sharing Christ with another person and seeing their faith take root. When God uses me to scatter seeds of faith in someone else’s soul, it is such an awesome experience. It feeds and waters my own faith.

We can all sow seeds of faith—in conversations, in teaching situations, in blog posts, in letters and cards—the opportunities are endless.

Where do you see yourself in Jesus’ parable of the sower? In what ways has God led you to sow seeds of faith?

Be encouraged!
Pam

©2015 Pamela D. Williams