Luke 8:4-8 When a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable: "The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up. "Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. "Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out. "Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great." As He said these things, He would call out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (NASB)
Maturity, or perhaps the antithesis of it, Immaturity is the prompt for today’s BLOG. Perhaps you wouldn’t think of the parable of the sower when you think of maturity but it is there plain as day. As Christians, Scripture challenges us to a life of Spiritual growth. Doctrinally this is referred to as sanctification. Simply put, sanctification is the process of growing up into Christ likeness. In the modern sense it is living out that WWJD bracelet for real in your life. When you have done that perfectly, (not that you can) you are fully sanctified.
The Easton Bible dictionary defines it this way: Sanctification, “Involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Rom_6:13; 2Co_4:6; Col_3:10; 1Jo_4:7; 1Co_6:19). It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work (1Co_6:11; 2Th_2:13)”.
So how does maturity or sanctification come to life in this parable? Most often we look at this parable and analyze, what is the seed, who is the sower etc. etc. By the time we’re all done with that, there is little time to look at the seed that took root and grew in the “Good soil”. What happened? Or better said, what is supposed to happen?
Before we get ahead of ourselves, this parable speaks of the Gospel message being shared and received by some. By the power of the Holy Spirit that message comes to live in the new believer and takes root in this fertile soil prepared from eternity past to hear and receive the Word of God. That is the, “Other seed (that) fell into the good soil”. But my friends the message does not stop there. The parable of the sower does not stop with germination and a sprout popping out of the ground. In fact, Other seed did that. “Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away.” So that is not to be the fate of seed falling on the fertile soil. That is not to be the fate of Christians.
"Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great."
Christians are to grow up through a process of sanctification into Christ likeness. No, not all at once but steady progress over a life time is the design. Paul rebuked some long time Christians who failed to grow up. Here’s what he had to say. ”For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil”. Hebrews 5:12-14 (NASB)
Christians are to grow up through a process of sanctification into Christ likeness. No, not all at once but steady progress over a life time is the design. Paul rebuked some long time Christians who failed to grow up. Here’s what he had to say. ”For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil”. Hebrews 5:12-14 (NASB)
So how do I do this Dale?
That is the beauty of the Christian experience. If you will just surrender and admit you don’t get it but open the Word and pray to the Holy Spirit to teach you. He will! That is the work of the Holy Spirit, to teach. Pray when you are under the teaching of trained Bible teachers that you will “Get it”. But you have to take some responsibility. If you fail to attend services or studies, if you choose not to open the Word, If you choose not to pray for the Holy Spirit to teach you, how do you expect this to happen?
The Lord wants you to grow up spiritually, His word says so. He will help you do it. AMEN!
