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What Jesus has to say about Seeds.

As they went from town to town, a lot of people joined in and traveled along. He addressed them, using this story: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. Some of it fell on the road; it was tramped down and the birds ate it. Other seed fell in the gravel; it sprouted, but withered because it didn't have good roots. Other seed fell in the weeds; the weeds grew with it and strangled it. Other seed fell in rich earth and produced a bumper crop.


"Are you listening to this? Really listening?"

His disciples asked, "Why did you tell this story?"

He said, "You've been given insight into God's kingdom—you know how it works. There are others who need stories. But even with stories some of them aren't going to get it:

Their eyes are open but don't see a thing,

Their ears are open but don't hear a thing.

"This story is about some of those people. The seed is the Word of God. The seeds on the road are those who hear the Word, but no sooner do they hear it than the Devil snatches it from them so they won't believe and be saved.

"The seeds in the gravel are those who hear with enthusiasm, but the enthusiasm doesn't go very deep. It's only another fad, and the moment there's trouble it's gone.

"And the seed that fell in the weeds—well, these are the ones who hear, but then the seed is crowded out and nothing comes of it as they go about their lives worrying about tomorrow, making money, and having fun.

"But the seed in the good earth—these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there's a harvest.

I'll Take That Seed, Thank You.

As I pondered God's protective covering over my lilfe, I became acutely aware of how often I take this role from him.  Much like a bird snatches seed, I snatch God's job as my protector right out of his hands.  And then more often than not, I blame HIM when I get hurt. 

As a counselor and wounded child of God myself, I've learned more than I'd like to know about Self-Protection.  We fear where God will plant us.  We fear where we might grow.  We fear.  Instead of settling into the seed of Christ, we attempt to protect ourselves.  And that false sense of security, most often does not completely block the elements of the wind, the rain, the sun.  And even more often, can do more damage than good. 

I've heard some counselors encourage people in their self-protection.  We all have our protective measures--ways we secure ourselves from hurtful people, situations, and past wounds.  It's a natural reaction of the human nature--but so is sin.    Don't get me wrong.  There are logical choices we must make when we've been hurt by our mothers, abandoned by our fathers, or abused by our spouses.  We must set certain boundaries to ensure we are honoring that in which God honors--US. 

When I speak of self-protection, I speak of unhealthy behaviors that become almost idolatrous, for we depend on them to take care of us more than we depend on Christ. 

Hiding behind our children because we fear interaction with others.
Shopping and spending.
Dishonesty.
Unhealthy co-dependant relationships.
Masking the truth of who you are or what you've done.
Constantly serving others and never receiving.
Sarcasm.
Rejecting others before they can reject you.
Alcoholism.
Gambling.
Sex.
Facebook.
These and so many more.

All the ways of self-protecting seem logical, seem helpful, seem right.  But all of them are ways that each of us concoct to aid a much deeper hurt or issue that only God can truly help us with.  When we choose to allow God to be our protective covering, we allow ourselves more vulnerabilty which is definitely suffering for me--and with vulnerability comes growth. And with growth comes maturity--and hope.

And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  Romans 5:2-4

But this hope that comes, comes only of the glory of God--through Him, by Him, for Him.  Your self-protective ways willl not produce the hope we need for the healing we need.  For it's through God's Hope and his glorious work on the cross that we can truly be healed of all the hurts we attempt to protect ourselves from.

I encourage you this day to rest in the seed of God's protection, casting aside your finite ways of protecting your heart from the hurts of this world.  It is only through that will you find the eternal healing you are searching for.