Journal Day 3

October 4, 2006 - Day 3

Mark 4:1-34
Passage: In this passage Jesus explains the work of His disciples. He first describes this work in a parable using a sower of seeds to represent one of His disciples who are spreading the gospel. The ground where the sower is sowing represents the person who is hearing the gospel explained. Jesus then gives four different responses that commonly occur.

Application: The first application that I find is in the way that the sower sowed the seeds. He sowed them on all kinds of ground. Some fell on the path, rocky soil, briar filled soil, and some on good soil. It is easy to pick and choose whom you will share the gospel with based on some external reason. Some people look intimidating, some look poor, some look uneducated, some look too busy, and so on. Jesus made it clear by this passage and by his own ministry that the gospel should be shared with all types of people. The outside appearance of people is a poor indication of the quality of the “soil” of their heart. Secondly I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 3:6. It says that God gave the growth to the gospel seeds that Paul and Apollos planted and watered. This gives me courage to continue sharing the gospel and trusting the Lord for the results.