February 11 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Mark 4:1–9

Devotional

A sower went out to sow seed. Where did the seeds fall? Some fell by the way side on the downtrodden path. Here the soil had become hardened. The seed did not penetrate into the earth and the birds were quick to peck it up. The seed was quickly lost. It did not come to fruition; the birds took care of that.

The seed that fell among hard soil is an illustration of those who hear God’s Word but do not pay attention to it. They hear the proclamation of sin and grace, but remain indifferent. They are only hearers of the Word and not doers. God’s Word comes to them but it does not penetrate their hearts. Birds, so to speak, come and peck that precious seed away.

Where do these birds come from that steal the seed of God’s Word? They come from the abyss of hell. Christ said, “When they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word.” The name “Satan” means adversary. Satan does nothing but oppose the work of God and man’s salvation. Satan knows well that the Word breaks down in order to build, that it makes poor in order to make rich, that it kills in order to make alive, and that it uncovers in order to save. Satan desires your damnation instead of your salvation. To one he says, “It can be put off till later.” He whispers in the ear of another, “You cannot convert yourself.” He makes a third believe that he does not need salvation, and to a fourth he says that salvation is beyond reach. These are all birds which take the seed away so that man will not be concerned about his eternal welfare. Satan wants to divert attention away from God’s salvation so that he can mislead the soul of man forever.

The seed fell by the way side. The seed did not penetrate. The natural man, like the seed thrown on hard soil, remains unmoved and cold. Sermons on God’s wrath or God’s love make no difference to the hardened soul. Whether sin is exposed or grace is laid out, there is no reaction. The gospel is not according to man’s liking. For some it is too depressing and for some it is too easy-going. It is too deep or too shallow, too easy or too difficult.

If you recognize a description of yourself here, oh, that thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! Consider, before it is too late, how much of that precious seed has already been lost in your life. That seed was indeed good, but you are so hard.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.