Living in the Spirit
Living in the Spirit
July 12, 2020
Scripture Reading: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
‘Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the Word of the Kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the Word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the Word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the Word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the Word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the Word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.’ –Mathew 13:18-23
As people sent to spread the good news of Jesus Christ throughout the world*, we are the sowers. How does this parable speak to us in that role? What responsibility do we have to prepare to be a sower of good news? How important is it for us to understand the Word of the Kingdom?
Our world today feels like it is on the precipice of change, and we do not know how to deal with it. Humans always seem to search for certainty in an uncertain world. We do not like dealing with a virus over which we have no control. We are not comfortable with our racist history or the apparent need to invest ourselves in becoming anti-racist. The pandemic of greed that has been spreading across the world for several years complicates both issues.
First, we must work to understand the concept of the Kingdom of God. Second, we must dive deeply past the 30 second sound bites of faith if we are to withstand the troubles that beset our world. And third, we must fight against letting the cares of the world distract us from our mission.
More than anything else, we must let the love of God sustain us in our work to implement God’s vision of a world ruled by love.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the constancy of your loving presence to help us through these troubling times. Amen.
*See Matthew 28:19-20
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.