The normal scattering of seeds

The sower sows the word; this is what the Scripture says.

But we often think of this parable as only describing the Word of the initial Gospel, and the fruit that results as those who receive the Gospel. In other words, we think the parable of the sower is "only" a picture of evangelism.

Until we ourselves are scattered.

Then it occurs to us that scattering not only applies to the word of the Gospel; it also applies to those who have the Word of the Gospel in them.

Those who receive the Gospel themselves become bearers of the seed of the Word.

And in this life, it is normal for seeds to be scattered:

For everything there is a season ... a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain ...

The stones of the house of God are not only to be built together, and built up; seasons will come when those stones need to be scattered ... so that more stones might be built up.

It is a historical fact that whenever the people of God were scattered, the Word also scattered, and the Church ultimately advanced.

We assume otherwise: We think of ourselves as the fruit of the seed that was sown, not as the seeds themselves. After all, the seed of the Word bore us. We simply want to grow in place. We want to flourish where we are planted. Be comfortable. Grow our gardens. Coast to retirement and beyond. Well, these are all normal expectations.

But scattering is also normal.

Logos2Go

Mark 4.3 "Listen! A sower went out to sow ...

Ecclesiastes 3.1 ..., 5 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven ... a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing ...

1 Peter 2.5 ... you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Zechariah 13.7-9 "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me," declares the Lord of hosts. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones. "In the whole land, declares the Lord , two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive. "And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'They are my people'; and they will say, 'The Lord is my God.'"