Wednesday, 6/15/2011
Reading: Mark 4:1-20
Reflection: As I sit here at Panera, there is only one other person in the entire place...one other customer I should say. I know nothing about him. I don't know where he works, if he works, or what he works at. I know he's married because of the ring on his finger, but I don't know who his wife is, how good or rough their relationship may be, or if they have children. I don't know if he owns a house, rents an apartment, leases a vehicle, or purchases goods with credit cards. And I certainly don't know if he has ever heard the gospel, how he would respond if the gospel were revealed to him, or if that response would be lasting or abbreviated. I know virtually nothing about this guy, except that he just got up to get his order. This is the nature of life...I know little about so many around me, and have no control over them whatsoever. It seems to me that this portion of Mark's gospel reminds me that evangelism can be like that as well. As the farmer plants the seed, he has little control over where the seeds land, how the soil will receive that seed, if that seed will die or take root, or how long the rooted plants will continue to grow. The only thing he can control is whether or not he will scatter the seeds. After that, it's all up to the God who sends messengers and draws believers. So, the question before me is this...will I spread some seed to this guy in the corner booth? Regardless of how little I know about him...and how little control I have over him...do I trust that God has put us both here on this day for a reason? I have a choice. I can scatter the seed or leave it in the bag. I can trust that God will use that seed as He chooses, or refuse to scatter the seeds until I think I have better control of the results. Of course, I will never have any control...so I better just head over there and try to strike up a conversation. I'm going in...and God only knows what kind of soil I might find.
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