The Challenges Of Faith
Our faith is not always easy. While there are times when we fully trust God, there are also moments when we doubt His character and plans for our lives.
Thankfully, we can overcome these obstacles. Through the Parable of the Sower, Jesus identifies the challenges of our faith and teaches us how to experience the freedom He offers us all.
Seed On The Path
When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
Due to our past experiences and desires, we may not be able to receive the freedom Jesus offers. The Pharisees reflected this during their time with Him. They believed the only way to receive salvation was by following the laws of God without fault.
The Way To Faith And Salvation
Through his earthly ministry, Jesus showed us the opposite. He taught everyone that the way to receive salvation was by loving God and the people He placed in our lives. This truth remains the same today. The only way to live in this truth is by learning more about our faith through Bible study.
You can also connect with other believers in our online community to build relationships and ask questions as you grow in Christ.
Seed On Rocky Ground
20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
During hard times, there may be moments when we doubt our God and the power he has. This mindset can prevent us from fully trusting Him and may even cause us to rely on our wisdom to overcome our problems.
Struggling With God
We see this occur in the Book of Exodus. Although God delivered Israel with many signs and wonders, they continued to doubt that He would care for them. This belief eventually led them to turn away from God and serve a golden calf while Moses received the ten commandments from Him.
The only way to endure hard times is to remain faithful to God. By remembering what God has done for us and others, we can find the strength to continue trusting and moving forward with Him.
Seed On Thorns
The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
God will give us dreams we believe are unachievable. We often question whether we’ll find the people, money, or resources and if we’re even deserving or capable of fulfilling them.
Gradual Faith
When the Angel of God addressed him as a mighty man of valor, Gideon immediately rejected his words. He expressed his background of growing up in the poorest tribe in Israel and questioned whether God was still with the people freed from Egypt.
Despite his worries, God still called Gideon to conquer the Midianites. And after a series of small battles and trials, Gideon defeated their army with only 300 men and solidified himself as one of the greatest heroes of our faith.
The Cost Of Wealth
A rich young ruler came to Jesus while he was teaching one day and asked how he could receive eternal life. After learning that the man obeyed every commandment, Jesus told him to sell everything he had and follow Him to be complete. In disappointment, the man heard the words of Jesus and turned away because he was unwilling to give everything away.
To follow God fully, we must overcome endless worry and the pursuit of wealth. By believing He will provide our needs, we can trust God and fulfill the many dreams He’s given us to change the world.
Seed On Good Soil
But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
We should all desire to become the good soil Jesus mentions. In this place, we grow with Jesus daily and rely on His power to overcome our struggles. Instead of being consumed with worry or wealth, we can focus on achieving the dreams God has given us.
This is the life God desires us to have and the one we can freely experience through His Son Jesus.
