Sowing the Seeds of Faith

Sowing the Seeds of Faith

As parents we have a high calling to impress our faith upon our children in such a way that it leaves a lasting impression. One way we do this is through our words. When we speak of our faith and love for Jesus our children’s faith is stirred and encouraged. The scriptures say, “For the overflow of the heart the mouth must speak. Matthew 6:13

For our mouths to overflow with such praise we must first be filled with God’s word and overflowing. This is where maintaining our own personal devotional life is so important. Parents must find regular times to retreat and be filled with God’s word so that it may overflow from our lips and stir the affections of our heart for Christ. We can get so consumed with the care and attention of our children or our careers that we miss our first love of caring for the things of God and giving Him the attention he deserves in our lives.

As parents we influence our children in so many ways. The words we say, our actions, our habits and our affections are often imitated by our children.

Jesus taught his disciples through parables “The knowledge of the secrets of the Kingdom of God” Luke 8:10. He did this so that when the believers in Christ heard these teachings they would understand because their hearts had been transformed, but to the unbelieving, “Though they see, they may not see, though hearing, they may not understand.” Luke 8:10-11

The Parable of the Sower found in Luke Chapter 8 speaks of 4 types of seeds that a farmer sowed when he went out to plant his seed. The following is an account of where the seeds fell and what the result was.

1.       Seeds that fell on the path- Trampled underfoot and eaten by the birds

2.       Seeds that fell upon the rocks- Grew up quickly but then weathered because of a lack of moisture

3.       Seeds that fell among the thorns- As they started to grow were choked out .

4.       Seeds that fell on the good soil- yielded a crop 100x what was sown.

In this Biblical account the 12 Disciples and women who believed in Jesus asked, “What does this mean?”

Jesus gave a reason for the parables stating, “The knowledge of the secrets of heaven have been given to you. But to others I speak in parables. “Though seeing, they may not see, though hearing, they may not understand.            Luke 8:11

The influence we leave upon our children is much like us casting (influencing) the seeds of our faith upon our children and watching to see what type of harvest it will produce. 

The seeds represent the Word of God from which we teach and instruct our children.

The following are the four meanings that Jesus gives for sharing about where each seed was sown:

1.       The seeds that fell on the path= Those who hear the word of God and then the devil comes and takes away.

2.       The seeds that fell on the rock= Those who receive the word with joy but have no root

3.       The seeds that fell amongst the thorns= Those who hear but go their own separate way and are chocked by life’s worries and don’t mature in their faith.

4.       The seeds that fell on good soil= Those who hear the word, retain it and produce a crop.

 None of us can be certain that our children will hear the word of God and automatically believe.  But we can make sure the seeds of faith we plant in their lives fall upon fertile “Good soil” and pray fervently that God would grow up a harvest 100 times what was sown. We can also direct our children’s path so that the seeds of faith we are planting in their lives do not fall on the hard path or upon the rocks or worse amongst the thorns so that they are chocked out.

Family Faith Talks are a key essential in parents sowing their seeds of faith (The word of God) into the lives of their children.

Faith Missions are families putting their faith to the test and living out their faith in such a way that it influences others through service and love.

Thought Questions:

Parents are you being fed a regular diet of God’s word so that the overflow of your heart is speaking the words of God?

Where are the seeds of faith falling amongst your children?

How will you insure that the seeds of faith you plant will fall on “good soil”?