Birds and Seeds

Maybe I should have said 1,000. When headed for Europe, I emailed that we hoped to present the Star to as many as 500 students. We didn't quite make that arbitrary number. But the Lord provided a total of 480 students and others from three universities. All of them known to Him from before time.

The Star pulls people who would not attend a religious meeting. So, seed was scattered among people who may not have been evangelized before. Jesus told us of both the tragedy and the victory that is already happening among these 480. Some will reject the message outright. Some students got up and *walked*out* on on the Star! That's a first, but I am told such happens in Slovakia. Most were fascinated, but Jesus says their initial response is not the real test.

Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear."

"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." Matthew 13, NIV.

If you have time, join in a prayer of protection for the seed:

"We hate to hear of the thief, Lord. But all of us have seen him work. We know the battle for souls is real and has casualties. Some people throw away your gift with both hands. Others are victims of the thief. We enter this war calling on you. Protect your message, Lord! Give it power to penetrate ideas raised up against you. Thank you for those with earnest questions! Help them hold on to the precious message even as the thief clutches and claws and yanks. Help them smell the banquet you offer. Use this improbable opportunity you created in Bratislava, Kosice and Presov. Give courage and wisdom to those following up. We pray for a crop, Lord! The hundred-fold kind! We ask it in the name of Jesus, amen."

Rick