Mark 4:26-29 Parable of the Seed Growing

He (Jesus) also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

Reading this parable was exactly what I needed this morning. As a mom of six, Sunday school teacher, and fully invested in the spiritual growth of kids around me, I tend to worry whether or not I am getting through to them. Did I present the Word appropriately? Did I make good enough connections? Did they understand the message? Did my kids read their Bibles, or just look at the pages? Did my kids pay attention at church? Are they learning? Do they care?

Well, this parable presents the answer to my questions rather clearly.

A man (me, you, anyone) scatters seeds (the Word of God) on the ground (the hearts of another person). At night (when the man has finished sowing and is not working) the seed sprouts all by itself; the soil produces the grain.

Now the soil here represents the Holy Spirit at work.

The man might sow the seed, but the ground produces the fruit. The man does not cause the seed to grow. He is asleep doing nothing. The Lord causes the seed to grow.

I may teach a lesson, but the Spirit is the one doing the work in the hearts of those students.

I may model, encourage, and request my children walk in faith, read their Bibles, pray, and attend church, but those seeds do not grow because of me. They grow because the Holy Spirit is at work in them.

My worries are in vain. Because “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain (Psalm 127:1).”

Thus, parents and teachers, sow that seed! Keep sowing it, but remember the Lord makes it grow! Pray that the Lord will help that seed grow and produce fruit! Never stop praying! The Lord is at work!