31. Семя

We see in this world that whatever seed is sown, such a fruit will be born from it, like this: from wheat - wheat, from rye - rye, from oats - oats, and so on. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh” (John 3:6). So God’s word, like a seed sown on the ground of human hearts, gives birth to fruit similar to itself. God's word is a spiritual, good, heavenly, holy, life-giving seed. What is sown on the human heart gives birth to a person similar to himself, that is, makes him spiritual, good, heavenly, holy, alive. Consider, man, how you hear the word of God: do you feel from hearing power and action similar to the word of God? Do you feel spiritual, good, heavenly thoughts and desires in your soul? If you don’t feel it, then this is a sign that the seed of the word of God in you is dying. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” - says the Lord (Luke 8:8, 15). The seed is sown equally, but does not fall on the same ground. Likewise, the word of God is preached to everyone equally, but its power and fruit are not in everyone. Other seed falls on the “path, and is stolen by the birds of the air.” So the word of God, preached to human hearts, along which, as if on a path, various thoughts pass, perishes and becomes fruitless, for “evil spirits,” like birds, snatch it away, “so that people, having believed, will not be saved.” Other seed falls on “stony” ground, and therefore does not have enough land where to deepen and establish its root. It will soon sprout, but from the heat of the sun, as if it has no root, it dries up. So the word of God, which fell on the hearts of men, but is not deepened and not rooted, although it is joyfully accepted, however, when it finds temptation, sorrow and persecution, it is deprived of its sweet fruit, and so Some seed falls among the thorns, and is suppressed by the growing thorns, and therefore becomes fruitless. Likewise, many people hear the word of God, but “with the sorrow of this world and the flattery of riches,” their hearts, like thorns, are encircled, and do not bear any fruit. And that is why in them the word of God is unfruitful. Another seed falls on the “good soil”, and it alone bears fruit. So the word of God, when “good hearts” hear it, receives its fruit, and from it they bear fruit “some a hundredfold, others sixty, some thirty” (See Matt. 13:3–23; Mark 4:3–20; Luke 8:5–15). From this you see, Christian: 1) The preached word of God, that is, the read Gospel or the Apostle, or something from the Old Testament, or the sermon of a preacher, must be listened to with all diligence and attention. May wicked spirits not snatch away from you, as birds steal the seed sown along the way, the word of God preached to you, and you will not be barren. 2) The Word of God, heard or read, must be deepened and rooted in the depths of the heart, and studied in it day and night, as the psalmist speaks about himself and represents himself to us in the image: “I have hidden Your words in my heart, so as not to sin against You” (Ps. 119:11). And again: “Your servant meditates on Your statutes. Your testimonies are my teaching, and Your statutes are my counselors” (Ps. 119:23-24). And again: “and I learned in Your commandments, which I greatly loved” * (Ps. 119:47). And again: “And I meditated on Your statutes” (Ps. 119:48). And again: “How I have loved Your law...! All day long he is my teaching” (Ps. 119:97). And again: “Sorrows and needs have befallen me; Your commandments are my comfort” (Ps. 119:143). That is why it is written about the righteous: “The law of his God is in his heart; his feet will not be stumbled" (Ps. 36:31), and "blessed" is the man whose "will is in the law of the Lord, and he learns in His law day and night!" Therefore, he is likened to a tree planted by streams of water, “which brings forth its fruit in its season, and whose leaf does not fall away; and he will prosper in whatever he does” (Ps. 1:1-3). 3) Since the whims of this world, like thorns, suppress the word of God sown in the heart, it is necessary to eradicate these harmful thorns from the heart, and “not love the world, nor the things that are in the world,” according to the word of the Apostle (1 John 2:15). Otherwise, the seed of God's word will be fruitless. 4) Those who want to serve God and bring the fruit of His word to Him are met with various temptations, according to what is written: “Child! If you begin to serve the Lord God, then prepare your soul for temptation” (Sir 2:1). Therefore, we must overcome all temptations with patience. That is why the holy evangelist says that “having heard the word, they keep it in a good and pure heart and bear fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15). Therefore, those who want to bear fruit from the word of God need patience. 5) Human effort is insignificant without God’s help. The earthen field - the human heart - cannot mate with the heavenly seed and bear fruit. Here we need the strength and help of the Heavenly Worker, Jesus Christ, as He Himself says: “Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Therefore, anyone who wants and tries to bear the fruit of God’s word must earnestly pray that the Lord Himself will create and fulfill the fruit of His word in our hearts. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you; For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8). Therefore, with such great zeal, the psalmist prays through the entire 118th Psalm that God Himself would lead him along the path of His commandments and bring forth the fruit of His words. Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of Your Father Without Beginning, help us! Although the soil on which the seed is sown will be good, it cannot produce fruit if it is not warmed by the warmth of the sun and watered by rain. So, although the seed of the word of God falls on a good heart, it will not bear any fruit if it is not warmed by the warmth of God’s grace and watered with dew from above. Therefore, just as sown seeds need sunlight and rain to bear fruit, so the heard word of God, so that it does not become without fruit, needs God’s grace, warming and watering. That is why Saint David says: “I walked in the way of Your commandments when You enlarged my heart” (Ps. 119:32). Therefore, we always need to sigh to the Lord, so that His grace will warm and irrigate our hearts. We demand God's grace every hour and every minute. Without it, like babies who do not yet know how to walk, we will fall and lie there. “Your mercy will follow me all the days of my life” (Ps. 22:6). Lord, place us with Your almighty hand on the path of Your commandments, and strengthen us and lead us! Translation by P. Yungerov – Editorial office of “The ABC of Faith” You might be interested in: