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118. How It Works in the Kingdom


Isaiah 55:8-11, Mark 4:26-29
Key Verse: "as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My Word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
Isaiah 55:10-11

Behold a mystery: the seed that the farmer plants in the ground sprouts and grows and produces for the farmer. Behold a mystery: the seed of the Word of God, planted in the soil of a willing heart, sprouts and grows and produces for its maker. If the farmer were to wait until he fully understood the process, he may never have a crop. If we wait until we fully understand the mystery of God's Word in the heart of a man, we may never lead another to the Lord.

God's ways are not our ways and we need to accept that. It would be foolish for the farmer to lose sleep over trying to figure it all out. Instead, by faith he prepares the soil and plants his crop in the spring. He dutifully tends the crop, removing predators and what weeds he can, doing his best to maintain soil conditions. He is obedient to his task and, Lord willing, in the fall, provided that conditions remain favorable, he will have a harvest as a reward for his faithfulness and discipline.

It is amazing how similar our calling in Christ is to that of the farmer for his crop. We do not understand exactly how Christ works in our own hearts, let alone in someone else’s. We are called to be obedient, in faith, to spread His Word, and be obedient in His command to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel," (Matthew 28:19), and have faith that God's Word will not return to Him empty, but will accomplish what He desires, and achieve the purpose for which it was sent by Him. (Isaiah 55:11B) "For faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the certainty of things unseen." (Hebrews 11:1)

We can never hold back because we think that the person we might reach isn't worth it, or is too hard-hearted to win for Christ. If Christ had treated us that way, where would we be today? "For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." (Phil. 2:13) We don't know the outcome. Our job is to be faithful, sow the seed, nourish and tend it faithfully with prayer and leave the results up to God.

This is another illustration, common to an agricultural society to help them understand the Kingdom of God, Christ's Kingdom. Yesterday, Jesus talked about the soil, our hearts, and the seed, His Word. Today, the seed is still His word, but the key ingredient today is our faithful obedience and our trust in the power of God's Word. As we put these parables together, we are beginning to understand how it works, meaning the Kingdom of God. Again, He speaks in parables to keep a bit of mystery for those who do not care to know, but He has promised, "You will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul." (Deut. 4:29b).  Be earnest and His mysteries will become known to you.


Hymn: "Come Ye Thankful People Come" 

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