Reflections on Mark 4:1-8

As I read through the familiar parable of the sower, it is interesting to think that we all fall into one of Jesus's soil categories. What kind of soil am I? What kind of soil are you? Am I placing myself in an environment where the maximum amount of growth can happen? That's definitely one of Jesus's point. Seeds don't grow well on hard paths, rocky places, and spots where there is shallow soil. This type of environment is not conducive for a plant to take its roots deep and become steadfast and secure.

As I was talking with a buddy it"s interesting to see that there are a great number of people who place themselves in a pretty healthy environment and yet they still remain stunted. They simply don't grow and blossom. They do not reach the zenith of God's potential. What's up with that?

I think it is fair to say that just because you are connected to a church does not mean you are becoming all that God created you to be. Connecting with a church community does not mean you are growing and experiencing life change. You might meet others who are...and you might live vicariously through them. I would say this is where most of us live. We live Christianity through others. God is not pleased with parroting Christians! Christians who mimic and use the language of other Christians. We have these types of Christians in spades. I have been one of them and it's easy for me to slip back into that type of Christianity. It's grotesque and not what God wants for us.

God longs to work in our lives, but there is an initiative and responsibility on our part. Holiness or our becoming more like Jesus does not happen by accident. It takes time and discipline. We need to pursue God in prayer and his revealed word and ask him to show himself to us and radically change us. We need to pour ourselves out and serve others. We need to live in a community that encourages these things as well.