Everyone wants to know what they are supposed to do in life. Why are we here? If you are a Christian, God has provided a ton of instruction about this topic, outlining what He would have you do.
These truths work and produce God-type results. That’s why you can see them so heavily used throughout the world, even outside of Christianity.
[tweetthis remove_hidden_hashtags=”true” remove_hidden_urls=”true”]Truth is truth, no matter where it’s applied.[/tweetthis]
One great example of what God would have you do is found in the Gospel of Mark. Jesus gives us a story, called a parable, that shares the “secret of the Kingdom of God”
1 Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. 2 He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. 4 As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. 5 Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” 9 Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” 10 Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant. 11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders,
12 so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:
‘When they see what I do,
they will learn nothing.
When they hear what I say,
they will not understand.
Otherwise, they will turn to me
and be forgiven.’”
13 Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? 14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. 15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. 16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, 19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. 20 And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!””
Insight 1: The seed needing sown is the witness of a Christian. You are the means by which the Holy Spirit gains access into people’s lives. (verse 3)
As a Christian we hold to the ultimate hope that there is an eternal promise of life with God. Hope is powerfully contagious. By sharing the ultimate hope you have gained with others you carry out the work which God has given you to do.
Insight 2: You are responsible for the seed being planted – “God’s word”. It must be used. Seed stored in a bag produces no crop, the Word of God produces no fruit unless it is followed and shared. (verse 14)
Christianity is not a passive belief system. It is an active lifestyle. You begin to see the true benefits of life when you begin to carry out God’s truths given in scripture.
Insight 3: We have the job of spreading His word to the people around us. In Matthew 28 Jesus tells his disciples to go to the entire world and preach the Gospel, or Good News. And boy is it good news. (verse 4)
Everywhere we go, our area of influence, is our modern-day, 2016 field. Knowledge that is not used is worthless to everyone, the same is true with Faith. If your faith doesn’t produce action it is dead and useless to everyone, even you. (James 2:14-26)
[tweetthis remove_hidden_hashtags=”true”]Purpose is easily found when you look outside yourself.[/tweetthis]
Insight 4: We are the farmhands, who have been handed bags of seed to sow. Do not sow sparingly – do not be discouraged if every seed does not mature. (verses 4-8 & 15-20)
It’s not our job to judge the soil. Nowhere in the story did Jesus say that the farmer deemed any ground not good enough for him to sow into. Guess what, that soil is a metaphor for people. This is liberating and empowering news. We don’t have to worry about how people respond to God and the message of His grace. Our work is to take our story of redemption and salvation and share it with others. (see the Apostle Paul’s story of salvation he gave to the church in Galatians 1)
Insight 5: The harvest in store, from those who “hear and accept” the Gospel, will be 30/60/100 greater than that which you’ve planted. You will never know just how each seed you plant in people will grow. As it matures it will begin to impact others. (verse 20)
The harvest is people – restored in relationship with God through Jesus. Harvest only comes where seed has been planted. Wherever you invest your time, abilities, and resources is where you will see growth. One corn kernel produces an ear of corn which holds roughly 800 kernels. Every relationship has exponential impact.
[tweetthis remove_hidden_hashtags=”true” remove_hidden_urls=”true”]Faith is truth in action.[/tweetthis]
Keep your eye on the field you are in. Look for the seeds that are growing and nurture them, shower them in the water of love and warm them in the light of God like grace and mercy.
Pray: God in Heaven, thank you for the amazing gift of your son, Jesus; the Grace you gave to me through his sacrifice at Calvary. Holy Spirit help me to spread the seeds of the Gospel to the people in my life, so that you may show the same love to them which I have received in my life. In Jesus name, Amen.
What do you think?
These are 5 insights of what a Christian should do within their world.
What insights do you have on Mark 4:1-20? What helps you share your story? What has kept you from sharing your story with others?
Scroll down and leave a comment.