Whenever Tammy went in for cancer treatment she put a butterfly sticker in the room to remind her of new life. That simple gesture ended up influencing others and you’ll hear how that sparked something incredible. Today we look at Matthew 13:3-23 as we consider what it means to be a good seed. This is the 2nd episode in our Harvest series.
Harvest Takeaway Verse: Matthew 13:23
The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of 30, 60, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted.
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Transcription:
Welcome to the Bible for Busy people. I’m Erica, and I’m so excited to continue this series on the harvest that we started last time. This is my favorite season of the year. It’s so much fun to go to the grocery store and go, “Do I need one more pumpkin for the front porch?” Pumpkins are my favorite, and the Bible has so much to say about the harvest; about reaping and sowing, and that’s what we’re gonna be exploring over our next few times together. Today, we’re gonna dive into a story that Jesus told in the gospel of Matthew Chapter 13, picking it up in verse 3:
Jesus said, “Listen, a farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds s sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow, but the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, They died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil and they produced a crop that was 30, 60 and even a hundred times as much as had been planted. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
Now we’re gonna skip down to verse 18, I believe it is in Matthew 13. Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds. This is so good.
The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, They don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems, or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lore of wealth. So, no fruit is produced.
Here’s our takeaway verse: Matthew 13:23.
The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of 30, 60, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted.
I love that parable that story that Jesus told. And it reminds me of a good seed, who I was privileged to know. Her name was Tammy, and many years ago she was battling cancer. Whenever Tammy would go for her radiation treatments, she put a butterfly sticker up in the radiation machine so that when she laid down and looked up, she would see the symbol of new life. And she wanted other people who went in for treatments to see the butterfly stickers as well. Well, Tammy went on to be with the Lord Jesus, but before she left, she left me her collection of butterflies. She had butterfly journals and purses and notebooks, and little cards and pictures that children had drawn her. And I put the box of Tammy’s butterflies in my attic. I was busy, Busy, busy at the time. And then I found myself in between two jobs that I loved very much, and I was very much in the middle of a depression. And I went up and I thought, Lord, what can I do with Tammy’s butterflies? And he gave me the idea for a ministry called Butterfly Hugs.
I wrote up Tammy’s story and expressed her wonderful faith in the Lord Jesus and how she trusted him through her cancer, and that I knew without a shadow of doubt that Tammy was with him. And so, I typed up that story and I attached it to each of her butterflies, and I brought the butterfly hugs to a chemo center, and ask the gal behind the desk to hand them out to the patients. That ministry grew and grew and somebody else actually runs it now, somebody who I love and respect so much, but those butterfly hugs still get delivered to hospitals up and down the east coast, and Tammy was a good seed who multiplied and multiplied. Her hope that she had in her heart is still being extended to people. I love people who are good seeds. They allow the gospel, the good news to fall on them. And they take it into their hearts and they spread it to other people.
Tammy was a good seed. Don’t you wanna be a good seed? I sure do. Okay. Until next time. Remember, you are really loved.
Thank you so much for listening to the Bible for Busy People. If you need prayer or you’re ready to go a little deeper in your faith, we’ve posted some resources for you in our show notes. We’d love for you to share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review. It helps us reach even more people with the hope of Jesus. This podcast is part of Purposely, a podcast network designed with practical podcasts to help you find and live in God’s purpose for your life. Find more podcasts that will recharge you at onpurposely.com.
