Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. … Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times. … [Some people], like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.
- Mark 4:3, 8, 20

How encouraging it is to know that some seed will fall on good soil! Sometimes we go out and scatter the seed of God’s word left and right and don’t see much happening. We share stories with friends, neighbors and family about God’s good work in our lives, but they just aren’t that interested. Discouraged, we can be tempted to shut up.

There is good soil out there, soil that’s been prepared, hearts that are ready to hear and accept that word of the Lord. That good soil isn’t always where we expect it to be. We may have to scatter a lot of seed before we find it. But when we do it will be worth it.

The kingdom of God is worth it. For a farmer who works hard in his field and only sees a few seeds thrive, it’s important for him to see that some of those seeds will bear a magnificent crop. The same is true for us.

Take a look at your history with God and his word. Who have you scattered the seed of the word of God toward? If you’ve been faithful over the years, you probably have your fair share of stories of frustration and disappointment. That’s okay. But perhaps you have some 30-60-100 stories too.

To look at it another way, perhaps you’re someone else’s 30-60-100 story. Perhaps someone faithfully scattered the seed of the word of God for years and years. Perhaps they experienced disappointment and frustration. But during that time God was preparing your heart. And when you heard the word of God, something came alive in you and the life of God started to grow up in you. You started to change and to grow, to bear fruit and to give life to people around you.

Who scattered the seed of the word of God into your life? Who have you seen grow? Take some time today to give God thanks.