July 20th, 2012
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Receptive Ground

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

God of Peace, I am so often stressed out, full of worry and urgency. Let Your peace sweep over me again.

Read Luke 8:1-15

[1] After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, [2] and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; [3] Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. [4] While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: [5] “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. [6] Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. [7] Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. [8] Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” [9] His disciples asked him what this parable meant. [10] He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’ [11] “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. [12] Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. [13] Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. [14] The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. [15] But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“Nobody ever outgrows Scripture: the book widens and deepens with our years” (Charles Haddon Spurgeon).

Think Further

When we think of Jesus’ disciples, we often focus on the 12 apostles. In fact, Jesus had many more disciples than this and they included women. We don’t know how many of the 72 sent out in Luke 10 were women, but we do know that Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Susanna were in Jesus’ traveling party. This in itself is surprising, for why wasn’t Joanna at home in Jerusalem with her husband, Chuza, Herod’s household manager? It’s also surprising to discover that it is the women who supported Jesus and the others financially.

It is in this large company of followers that Jesus tells the crowd the parable of the sower. The graphic simplicity of the story has enabled it to be retold in every era, language, culture and context. Like so many of Jesus’ parables it has a universal quality about it. Even today, when farming in our culture is high-tech and specialized, the story loses none of its meaning or relevance.

It is sobering to think that wherever the Word of God is scattered there are always those who represent the stony ground, or the dry path and thorns. Such people might be in our own families or neighborhoods. We are excited as they receive the gospel and begin to grow, but we find there is little depth and eventually their faith seems to dry up. Yet the parable is not told to discourage us. For not only is there always the good ground, where the seed produces a mature crop which can withstand drought and storms, but even thorns can be pulled up, and stones can be cleared away. I’ve met many people who had given up on the gospel, but returned to the faith later in life and grown strong. So do persevere in prayer. Careful gardening can make all the difference in the long run.

Apply

Ask yourself how much mature growth, how much fruit, the word is producing in your life. Then, ask how you can produce even more.

Closing prayer

Lord, help me be a faithful disciple who doesn’t easily give up on growing or on praying for those who’ve received Your Word.

Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.

© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.

Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.

View all readings

Get ENCOUNTER:

in your email:

in Print:

Become a Member | Visit our store