This morning, I found myself reading Matthew 13:4-9. Though I'd read it before and have heard a few teachings about it, I believe the Holy Spirit began to minister to me for me see, understand, and know it for myself. The Holy Spirit has been doing that a lot lately- making me read passages I already know just to listen to what He specifically wants me to grasp from it.
So, Matthew 13:4-9, Jesus is sharing a parable: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell amongst thorns, and grew up and chocked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundred fold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!"
I've been taught that the different paths represent different paths of faiths. However, this morning, I believe the Holy Spirit, the Lord who has given me the mindset of an English major, made me notice that not all of the different places the seeds dropped were paths. Only 1 was a path. Here's what I learned/understood.
This is about lifestyles, not necessarily faiths.
1. The Path- A path is clear of debris, it is typically smooth, a route taken many times, it is easy, it is luxurious, and a relaxing stroll.
Quintessentially, this is the lifestyle of someone born with a silver spoon in their mouth. This is the life of someone whose provisions have always been filled, whose problems were always solved by someone else, whose education, ambition, needs and wants are given to the person even without the person needing to ask; AND it's beautiful, luxurious, peaceful and satisfying.
I recall the warning of helping a butterfly come out of its cocoon. If you help a butterfly come out of its cocoon, it's wings do not gain strength. In fact, the butterfly, never needing to work its wings, stays weakened, can't fly and eventually dies.
Verse 4: "... some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up..."
It is difficult to bring the message of the love, need and fear of Gd to those whom believe they have everything they need and want. Those whom were born in a situation where they and everyone around them have always had more than enough causing them to have difficulty seeing, believing, understanding their need of Gd, recognizing their Lord as Lord and Saviour, and worshipping Him as such.
2. Rocky Ground- Not a path, but ground. This ground is mixed with soil and rocks. This ground has smooth parts and a few rough parts. The rough parts are so minor that a little side step will get someone through.
Modern Christianity/Religion. This lifestyle is an average Christian (American) family. This family goes to a church, they've probably been going to the same one for several generations, and it is probably conveniently near their home. They go to church every Sunday, and watch "the game" as soon as they get home. They go to Bible study or prayer night every so often, then go see the latest thriller or film; they throw birthday parties in a club venues, hang out on Saturday nights and once again, return to church on Sunday (they have a great surface of Christianity, they even tithe and give gifts to needy around Christmas). When obstacles arise they pray, and then they do everything they can do to control the outcome/find the solution to their problem. However, when a relative is suddenly incapacitated from a car accident, their home is destroyed from a hurricane, the head of the household or both parents lose their jobs, or the wrong governor or president wins, the truth that it is the heat of the devil who steals, kills and destroys (John 10:10) is forgotten. The Truth (word of Gd), the joy, the faith of Gd as sole provider, healer, faithful, saviour is suddenly forgotten. Suddenly, "WHY GD!" is angrily screamed. Suddenly, the view (the lie) of Gd as condemner is adopted.
Verse 6: "But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since it has no root, the seeds withered away."
3. Thorns- This is not a trail, nor path, nor ground. These are thorns, bushels of them. It's thick, it hurts, there is never a clear place to move ahead, there's only pain and a little less pain.
This is the life of someone born in the ghetto/hood in its most raw and hardest sense. I've been told and taught that we are born with sin and the root of all man is evil. Being born with sin I understand, but the belief that we are wicked, I struggle to fully believe. When a baby is born, it cries because it's been smacked, haha. In my life of babysitting infants and toddlers both with parents and orphaned, the children are constantly reaching their hands up to be held. They are constantly bringing me toys they want to share. They also love to laugh. I believe we are born with light within us. In this situation of a lifestyle of thorns, this lifestyle of the ghetto/hood, this child/children who craves love is immediately given temporary love. They are immediately taught that love is earned or must be earned and IS earned by the direct sacrifice of them- something they love (hair, iPad, Jordan shoes) or their dignity (they must perform some sort of sexual/nudity act). They are surrounded by people who do nothing but spend their days seeking what they can get (Only in the hood have I heard, "Imma gets mine!") They are surrounded by people who celebrate the very temporal accomplishments (a new car-stolen or bought, new shoes-stolen or bought, getting a virgin or any girl/boy to have sexual relations with them). These children of light (no matter how dim) receive the Word (the light brightens) that offers eternal life, peace, freedom, abundance, but when they go home, still living in their same environment, living amongst thorns, they are ridiculed, mocked, stifled, possibly literally beaten up (I've heard of kids being beaten up for going to school, and getting A's in school) and become so worn down, the light dims and eventually dies.
This situation reminds me of a young girl named Diedra from the documentary Nefarious. Nefarious is a documentary about human trafficking. The documentary traces human trafficking to prostitution and eventually has a segment featuring several woman from Moldova to Las Vegas, Nevada (prostitution has been legal in Nevada for 2 years now I think). Sixteen-year-old Diedra spoke in an interview of how every time she "worked" she felt like she was losing a piece of her soul. She continued to admit that no one really wants to be a prostitute. Diedra then reveals that her grandmother was a prostitute and her mother was or is still a prostitute. At the end of the documentary are clips of "where they are now". Many of the women who received the Word, the power of healing AND restoration from Gd were now married with children! Some established organizations and homes to spread the Gospel to women who were like them. The "where they are now" for Diedra was: Has returned to prostitution. Why? I bet she was never removed from her immediate environment of thorns - her grandmother and mother- nor her state environment of thorns- Las Vegas, Nevada, where prostitution is legal.
Verse 7:"Other seeds fell amongst thorns, the thorns grew up and choked them."
4. Good Soil-Not a path, nor a trail, but land. This land is good. Good soil comes in varieties. It can be the rich brown soil of Florida, or the red clay of Africa, or the tan sand like Israel.
This lifestyle is one that has forfeited the smooth, luxurious easy paths set before them either by family economic and social status or wealth/lax of their birth nation. This person has chosen not to walk a trail or chose a popular systematic way of thinking to dig a trail for themselves. Instead, this person has chosen to prepare their heart, their life to be gardened by The Gardener. This person has made the decision to allow the Lord to plant His seeds, nurture the growth, and prune when needed. The soil, this lifestyle, that has been gardened by the Lord will always beget life because life has been planted into it by life Himself. This lifestyle remains fruitful, in abundance, never forsaken, held up in holiness and righteousness because it is looked after and ruled by the most high authority, God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit, all three in one, always loving, always healing and restoring, always guiding and nurturing growth.
I recall Gd's first days as a gardener: "Then Gd said, 'Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with seeds in it.'" (Genesis 1:11)
It is not a side note, nor an accident that He specifically commanded fruits to beget fruits with seeds in them, and plants to beget plants with seeds in them.
I recall Gd's first blessings: "God blessed them, saying, 'Be fruitful and multiply...'" (Genesis 1:28)
I am coming into an age in my life where I realize WHOA did I have some paths I was on, then traveled some rocky ground. I am also coming into an age of choosing to not take a path or blaze a trail but to instead, let go, and just be a good soil. Just be soil. Gd wont even carve a path into us, instead He will just plant His seeds of life, and make sure that the garden grows with seeds that will grow with more seeds that will grow. Verse 8: "Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
Just be soil.
Trust me, I know, it is harder than it sounds, but it's also easier than it seems.
grace and peace.
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