Our Life Source

   

The last few weeks two passages have been dancing around in my mind.  One is my personal treasure John 15 and the other is Matthew 13.

These two messages somehow belong together in Jesus’ over all teachings.  At least that what I am thinking right now.

Both messages have to do with a tiny seed; that grows into something larger than its petite-beginnings.

John 15 shares that precious connection of the vine and branched.

Matthew 13 is the parable of the sower that sows seed upon all kinds of earth; and how that seed is accepted by the various places it falls upon.

Remember the blog I wrote on “the fourth” part of the Trinity?  Well, the images that Jesus was trying to create, in our brains, was how this fourth begins.

That is how we, created by the human seed of life, grow into one of God’s human parts.

One, of the many, “fourths” who are grafted to God as we grow from that tiny seed into something more.  Something larger, something that produces something needed — good fruit.

Lets start with growth 101. 

The seed, put into the earth, grows roots.

The roots act like a straw absorbing water and mineral from the soil.  This root helps to anchor the plant so it stay steady above the earth.

As the seed grows, into a human or vegetation, it needs to remain connected to its life source — the root.

This root, in my imagination, is the beginning foundation of our intimate connection — relationship — with God.

What I want you to see, in Matthew thirteen’s message, is that God sows his seed on all sorts of soil.  That is, God doesn’t pick and chose which seed he sows on what soil.  

All God’s seeds are meant to grow into good fruit.

It is the circumstances — the kind of soil — that the seed lands on that effect its growth.  

However God’s seed is shared freely with the earth — all kinds of soil.  

God does not limit the seeds given.  

 All of God’s seeds are meant to grow strong and well in any and all soil.

18-19 “Study this story of the farmer planting seed. When anyone hears news of the kingdom and doesn’t take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person’s heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road.

20-21 “The seed cast in the gravel—this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.

22 “The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it.

23 “The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.”(Mt. 13)

 Tomorrow:

 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.  5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.(Jn 15)