Scattering...

Last week I heard a message that blew me away - and gave such confirmation on what God's been doing in my heart the past several years. It was all about scattering. One of the scriptural references was to the parable of the seeds that Jesus gives. The speaker made the point that Jesus didn't precisely measure out the places where He would plant these seeds. He didn't dig holes to specific depths or formulize fertilizer to match the soil type. He didn't follow a watering/feeding ritual. He (as this speaker so wonderfully put it) went all "willy-nilly" and took handfulls of seed and tossed them - scattering them all along the path he walked. And He did so knowing many would never make it to fertile ground! Imagine that!

What does that say about our plans and contrition and programs and formulas? I think too often what we want is a formula or plan that yeilds the most fruit - that insures success in our own eyes. Jesus didn't talk about scattering seeds and waiting to see what "success" looked like. In fact He prepared us to know that much of our "effort" would go without evidence of affectiveness! So why do we spend so much time concentrating on the "perfect plan"? How about going through life - REAL life - IN THE WORLD (gasp!) and scattering seeds AS WE GO?!? How about letting God be responsible (bigger gasp!) for the fruit and just doing life with one another by the power of the Spirit? Hmmmmm.... that might require me to change some of my preconceptions regarding "church" and "evangelism" and "temptation" - eeek! Just something to think about.