Matins Devotion: March 12, 2025

Mark 4:1-20

I’ve probably preached on the Sower and the Seed more than any other text in the Bible, and I’ve also repeated myself more in those sermons that I probably have anywhere else. But I’m happy to do so because it’s an important thing to repeat: When Jesus gives us this parable, He’s not really challenging us to do soil inventory and figure out which kind of soil we are in our hearts. And He’s certainly not challenging us to ignore certain groups that we imagine might be unprofitable soil and focus on those we think have the best chance of bearing fruit.

Rather, our Lord’s point is this: This is just what happens when you preach the Gospel. Some people will hear and never believe. Some people will believe for a time but then fall away either because the Christian faith has made their life difficult or because they wouldn’t stop prioritizing worldly things over Jesus. Then some people will hear and believe and endure. 

We did the same thing in all circumstances–we proclaimed the name of Jesus to them. But the results were all different. And that’s just how it works. So when people don’t believe, it’s not because you confessed the faith wrong or because you said Word X when you should have said Word Y. It’s not because you weren’t clever enough or winsome enough. When you remain a Christian and your siblings don’t, when some of your kids remain in the church and others don’t, this doesn’t mean you broke the word or messed everything up. This is just what happens. 

So don’t be discouraged when it does. Don’t think there’s a recipe for transforming bad soil to good. Leave that to God. Keep confessing. Keep praying. Keep trusting in the blood of Jesus Christ that has won eternal life for you, and leave all things in your Lord’s hands. As the church, let’s just sow and let God worry about the harvest.