Jesus speaking: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. … Still, other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” – Luke 8:5, 8
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. …” – Luke 8:11
In the last blog post we pondered how that the “seed” – the Word of God – produces growth which looks different in different people’s lives.
For example: the Word of God – the “seed” – tells us to worship the Lord. “Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.” – Psalm 96:9
The way that you worship the Lord will look different from the way that I worship the Lord. Some people worship the Lord by singing songs of praise to him. Some people worship the Lord by spending time in nature, being in awe of God’s greatness and contemplating his majesty. Some people worship the Lord by journalling … some by writing poetry or blogs … some by artistic works, etc. …
The same “seed” (Word of God) is “sown” in each of our hearts. But the “growth” / “harvest” of righteousness will look different from person to person.
The Word of God – the “seed” – tells us to love one another.
Jesus speaking: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:34-35
The ways that you show love towards others will look different from the ways that I show love towards others. The same “seed” (Word of God) is “sown” in each of our hearts. But the “growth” / “harvest” of righteousness will look different from person to person.
The Word of God – the “seed” – tells us to be kind and compassionate towards each other.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:32
The ways in which you show kindness and compassion towards those whom God has placed in your life will look different from the ways in which I show kindness and compassion towards those whom God has placed in my life. The same “seed” (Word of God) is “sown” in each of our hearts. But the “growth” / “harvest” of righteousness will look different from person to person.
The Word of God – the “seed” – tells us to serve one another.
“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” – 1 Peter 4:10
The ways that you serve others will look different from the ways that I serve others. The same “seed” (Word of God) is “sown” in each of our hearts. But the “growth” / “harvest” of righteousness will look different from person to person.
Recently hubby and I were exploring the Pend Oreille region of northeast Washington state. In adventuring to Big Meadow Lake, we were surprised to discover this old homestead cabin – from the Hess homestead (built along Meadow Creek, in the early 1900’s).
As I ponder how the “seed” (the Word of God) produces a “harvest” of righteousness which is different in each person’s life, I can’t help but wonder if the “seed” (the Word of God) was “sown” into the lives of the early pioneers and homesteaders of Pend Oreille County. What might the “harvest” of righteousness have looked like in their lives?
The Hess family who cleared the land and built this cabin out in the middle of nowhere would have had the same “seed” speaking into their life: “Have faith in God.” – Mark 11:22
The same Sower … the same “seed” … even back in 1908.
Adventuring on, hubby and I came to Sweet Creek Falls.
The interpretive sign at the trailhead informed us that this was August and Lura Appel’s homestead.
Did the “seed” (the Word of God) produce a “harvest” in their lives? What might this “harvest” of righteousness have looked like?
The same Sower … the same “seed.”
Colossians 3:23 – “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” Here you can see (from the interpretive sign) August Appel delivering a load of cedar poles … and a photo of Lura Appel also delivering some cedar poles to the boat landing.
Even back in 1914 a “harvest” of righteousness was possible, even in distant, remote, faraway places … as early pioneers and homesteaders worked with all their hearts for the Lord.
The same Sower … the same “seed.”
Here you can see a neighborhood social (from the interpretive sign), as early settlers and homesteaders got together to have a picnic at Sweet Creek Falls. Even in this distant, remote, faraway place there were opportunities for people to show kindness, compassion, and friendship towards each other.
The same Sower … the same “seed.” And a “harvest” of righteousness … in 1913.
Hubby and I adventured on, and we came to a small historical museum in an old, restored General Store.
Here you can see the same General Store in 1928 (from the interpretive sign).
As I notice the people on the front porch of the General Store, I can’t help but wonder: Did they have a church in their community? Even in this distant, remote, faraway place was the “seed” (the Word of God) being “sown” into these people’s hearts?
Here you can see Alexander and Catherine, from the Kalispel Tribe … whose people lived on these lands long before any settlers or homesteaders, loggers or miners arrived in the area.
The Kalispel people fished these rivers first. They hunted these lands first. They gathered berries and Camas bulbs here first.
Did the Kalispel people have an opportunity to have the “seed” (the Word of God) “sown” into their hearts?
Was there a “harvest” of righteousness happening as the early homesteaders showed kindness and friendship towards the Kalispel people … and as the Kalispel people in turn lived in peace and friendship with those who were encroaching on their territorial lands?
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” – Romans 12:18
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” – Romans 12:12
“Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” – James 3:18
The same Sower … the same “seed.”
And a “harvest” of righteousness … in 1908.
When we think of Jesus’s parable of the Sower and the Seed … it’s easy to automatically assume that the “harvest” of righteousness needs to look big and grandiose. After all, we live in a day when everything we see online is big and grandiose!
And after all, in Jesus’s parable he specifically states that the seed “came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” – Luke 8:8
Obviously, if the “seed” (the Word of God) is to produce a “harvest” in our lives, then surely it must be big and grandiose! Such as “changing the world” by being an online influencer … or writing books … or speaking … or making a big impact for the Kingdom of God. Or surely it must look like wearing ourselves out to do every good work whenever there is a need. All these good works are “producing a harvest” … right??
We don’t realize that the “seed” (the Word of God) can produce a “harvest” of righteousness in our lives even in the small things.
“Have faith in God.” – Mark 11:22 Our faith in God, even when our life comes to a “dead-end” (so to speak) on a narrow frightening one-lane gravel path (so to speak) … our faith to trust, right here right now, is indeed the “harvest” which the “seed” is producing.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” – Colossians 3:23 If we are faithfully working hard and doing our very best, right here right now, where God has placed us … this is indeed the “harvest” which the “seed” is producing.
“Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.” – Psalm 96:9
“Love one another.” – John 13:34
“Be kind and compassionate to one another.” – Ephesians 4:32
This happens in the normal … in the “little things” … in the everyday. This is the “harvest” which the “seed” (the Word of God) is producing.
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” – Romans 12:18
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” – Romans 12:12
“Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” – James 3:18
This happens in the normal, in the everyday … in the “hidden” places of life … in the seemingly “insignificant” moments. This is the “harvest” which the “seed” (the Word of God) is producing.
The same Sower … the same “seed.”
And a “harvest” of righteousness … in 2026.
