Farmer

"The good seed is the children of the kingdom," Matthew 13:38.

When Jesus spoke of farmers planting seed in fields, he explained different meanings for the seed depending on the particular parable: it might mean the Word, or the Gospel, or the kingdom. Here, the farmer's broadcast seed represented all God's children in his kingdom scattered throughout the world. (Oh! and the farmer is Jesus, right?) Contrasted with what? with the children of the devil also scattered in the world. So, the world of our present age sits a mixed bag with both people of Christ's kingdom and people of the devil in it. (We do not confuse his kingdom with nations of this age!) Christ's kingdom, his planting, that is, his present-day church, does not have its whole context. Yet. But comes a day when the Lord secures the weeding out, and then the righteous will shine like the sun in God's kingdom. So said Jesus, anyway. And so we hope.

When we meet with a brother or sister today, we tell of Jesus' planting and maturing and cleansing in his kingdom. And, together, we confess the sacrifice of thanksgiving that shines his name.