Fascinating to think of the parable of the sower from this framework - that we are each of the soils in different seasons of life/faith. This makes so much sense. Also, I have never really understood Jesus' words about speaking in parables so that people will not perceive. Your article was really helpful and thought-provoking, and also comforting because frankly, sometimes I am discouraged as I continue to wrestle with sin, in this now-but-not-yet time. It's wonderful to remember that we serve a faithful Soil/Heart-Tiller who is going to continue his slow work in us until the day of Christ Jesus.
Hi Amy, what a wonderful, encouraging comment. Thank you for reading and responding. I'm so glad this post (in particular) was helpful to you. It took me longer than almost any other to formulate and articulate!
Thank you for taking the time to write this out. I find it very helpful. Among many other insights, i especially appreciate the comments on the logical flow of Jesus's High Priestly prayer: how he prays not for the world, but then does have good intentions for the world through his prayed-for disciples.
The whole piece really stirs in me an appreciation of the patient goodness of the Lord, and nudges me to love him and his ways more.
Reuben, thank you for this encouragement. The High Priestly Prayer part was, to me, the most powerful evidence of what I was talking about in the whole piece, but no one ever comments on it. I think few have the patience to see it, but the structure of the prayer is so profound and beautiful. Anyway, glad that struck a chord with you!
Having recently tilled our garden, your message really took shape in my mind. It made me ponder how, yes, the seed is most important, but without proper cultivation of the soil, it will not flourish and may not even grow at all. Imagining the heart as the soil, if the receiver trusts in and submits completely to the sower, there may be some pain as roots are ripped out, stones are removed and new mulch is mixed in. The old plants in that space must die for new life to grow. The garden must still be tended while the crop grows and produces fruit. But it’s still not over, the process is repeated the following year.
Your piece has reminded me that God is not finished with any of us on earth. That’s a counter, cultural message when our nature wants the quick and easy fix, especially in this age of quick, cheap and easy information(not necessarily communication)and stuff. Thank you for illuminating the fact that God is not about the quick, cheap and easy. Just as in the farmers crop, it’s a long but beautiful process of growth and fruit.
I often wonder what happens when we are trying to use language to describe things more fundamental than the words we are using. I realize that we often utilize parables as a way to bring coherence to our consciousness. It seems to me that Christ understood this as a perennial problem. The need to bring the mind into harmony comes out of the necessity to maintain the garden of one's consciousness and to continuously till the soil so that we can actually hear the truth in the Love of God. I see now that I must invest myself more in this 'long-game', thank you for sharing these insights.
I find that message very liberating! So I don’t feel awkward about popping the question to everyone I meet just because I’m a spiritual coward? Amazing. Looking forward to discussing it soon.
this is great! i love the story of joseph and his brothers so much. the one amazing thing is that Judah gets the greatest blessing from his Father in the end, not Joseph. His line is to bring forth the Redeemer.
Exactly, perhaps the way that Joseph is *most* Christ-like is that he tills the soils of Judah's heart so effectively that he actually makes *him* the Christ-figure in the end.
in the early church the latin word christocola was a rival for the word christian itself. the meaning coming from agricola- farmer. a christocola is a cultivator of Christ!
Fascinating to think of the parable of the sower from this framework - that we are each of the soils in different seasons of life/faith. This makes so much sense. Also, I have never really understood Jesus' words about speaking in parables so that people will not perceive. Your article was really helpful and thought-provoking, and also comforting because frankly, sometimes I am discouraged as I continue to wrestle with sin, in this now-but-not-yet time. It's wonderful to remember that we serve a faithful Soil/Heart-Tiller who is going to continue his slow work in us until the day of Christ Jesus.
Hi Amy, what a wonderful, encouraging comment. Thank you for reading and responding. I'm so glad this post (in particular) was helpful to you. It took me longer than almost any other to formulate and articulate!
Thank you for taking the time to write this out. I find it very helpful. Among many other insights, i especially appreciate the comments on the logical flow of Jesus's High Priestly prayer: how he prays not for the world, but then does have good intentions for the world through his prayed-for disciples.
The whole piece really stirs in me an appreciation of the patient goodness of the Lord, and nudges me to love him and his ways more.
Reuben, thank you for this encouragement. The High Priestly Prayer part was, to me, the most powerful evidence of what I was talking about in the whole piece, but no one ever comments on it. I think few have the patience to see it, but the structure of the prayer is so profound and beautiful. Anyway, glad that struck a chord with you!
Having recently tilled our garden, your message really took shape in my mind. It made me ponder how, yes, the seed is most important, but without proper cultivation of the soil, it will not flourish and may not even grow at all. Imagining the heart as the soil, if the receiver trusts in and submits completely to the sower, there may be some pain as roots are ripped out, stones are removed and new mulch is mixed in. The old plants in that space must die for new life to grow. The garden must still be tended while the crop grows and produces fruit. But it’s still not over, the process is repeated the following year.
Your piece has reminded me that God is not finished with any of us on earth. That’s a counter, cultural message when our nature wants the quick and easy fix, especially in this age of quick, cheap and easy information(not necessarily communication)and stuff. Thank you for illuminating the fact that God is not about the quick, cheap and easy. Just as in the farmers crop, it’s a long but beautiful process of growth and fruit.
So beautiful. Yes, the old plants must die for new life to grow. And the process does not just happen once but over years. Exactly. Thanks for this.
I often wonder what happens when we are trying to use language to describe things more fundamental than the words we are using. I realize that we often utilize parables as a way to bring coherence to our consciousness. It seems to me that Christ understood this as a perennial problem. The need to bring the mind into harmony comes out of the necessity to maintain the garden of one's consciousness and to continuously till the soil so that we can actually hear the truth in the Love of God. I see now that I must invest myself more in this 'long-game', thank you for sharing these insights.
What great thoughts! Yes, exactly.
95% of ministry is soil tilling.
I find that message very liberating! So I don’t feel awkward about popping the question to everyone I meet just because I’m a spiritual coward? Amazing. Looking forward to discussing it soon.
Same! Looking forward to it.
this is great! i love the story of joseph and his brothers so much. the one amazing thing is that Judah gets the greatest blessing from his Father in the end, not Joseph. His line is to bring forth the Redeemer.
Exactly, perhaps the way that Joseph is *most* Christ-like is that he tills the soils of Judah's heart so effectively that he actually makes *him* the Christ-figure in the end.
in the early church the latin word christocola was a rival for the word christian itself. the meaning coming from agricola- farmer. a christocola is a cultivator of Christ!
I love that.