By Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012

PHOTO: Mission can be understood as sowing the seeds of the gospel. Jesus told many parables that illustrate this motion. One of these is quite puzzling. In Matthew 13:24-30, we find the parable of the seeds: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away" (Matthew 13:24-25). Soon, up came both the wheat and the weeds. The man's servants were puzzled about the weeds' appearance because they had clearly seen him sow only good seed. The man's response showed that he knew what was happening. "An enemy did this," he explained.
The enemy was busy at work, but in the cover of darkness, when everyone "was sleeping" (Matthew 13:25). Wherever good seed was diligently sown, the enemy would sow bad seed. No one noticed or knew, except the owner of the field.
Let us consider two kinds of fields. The first is the mission field. The more good seed is sown, the more the devil will sow evil seed. We should not be surprised by this. Neither should we be caught unaware. Instead, we should be discerning, wise, and prayerful. In the mission field, we will observe "weeds" appearing from time to time. Individuals we had trusted will turn out to have been untrustworthy. Divisions, misunderstandings, and strife will occur. Gross wrongdoing may be uncovered. These things should concern but not surprise us. Indeed, where we see great manifestations of the good seed, there also may be found evidence of Satan's evil weeds.
Our response should be to pray hard for our mission fields. One difficulty is that wheat and weeds may look very much alike, at least initially and on a superficial (surface) level. But as time goes on, the differences will emerge. Spiritual discernment, fervent prayer, and wise, practical discretion will be of great help in this matter.
The second kind of field is our own heart. In his book, Wrestling with Christ, Italian spiritual writer Luigi Santucci explores the idea.
"Every evening I lie down like that field under the stars and I'm that tangle of different grasses . . . the good stalks and bad stalks get inextricably (inseparably) interwoven . . . When I perform some action of generous innocence, straightaway some selfish calculation crops up - in the impulse to help, a vain self-satisfaction; in the consoling caress (stroke gently or lovingly), a hint of lechery (lust); in my evening prayer of thanksgiving, some base superstition (Murphy's Law - anything that can go wrong will go wrong)." [1a]
Being involved in missions can lull (calm) us into thinking that all our missionary impulses are from God. Yet, the enemy's seeds often lurk deep within us.
We must therefore turn to the Master - to pray that His seed will flourish in our missions and our hearts, and that the enemy's weeds will wither and die. Only God can see to this. Hence our need to pray, both for ourselves and for the mission field.
Picture posted by Ebenezer Baptist Church
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLFOI66ZHAVKzSAVlUizg7sgnLIzUWnyRg8OLvfLfnedVcV8cN3pMCcCu2MP9A7cXJcn5hJcht-hlOpb2uiEkzOCDnVuJIEblnJULpBi8UZOSJ_EJsyLsZttLsP6iiHROdKgXRhTM88lyMUobm7WQuQPvwz50H1rS6Ve3K865MdJCYS_XjANxBATD2BM/s1045/wheat--tare--and-weeds.jpg
https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.cloudfront.net/2023/02/23/18/58/05/56e4b3ad-c66b-4ab1-a79e-4d1fe82bdfa9/wheat--tare--and-weeds.jpg
https://ebcnc.com/blog/wheat-or-tares-can-you-tell-the-difference
Mission can be understood as sowing the seeds of the gospel. Jesus told many parables that illustrate this motion. One of these is quite puzzling. In Matthew 13:24-30, we find the parable of the seeds: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away" (Matthew 13:24-25). Soon, up came both the wheat and the weeds. The man's servants were puzzled about the weeds' appearance because they had clearly seen him sow only good seed. The man's response showed that he knew what was happening. "An enemy did this," he explained.

PHOTO: Mission can be understood as sowing the seeds of the gospel. Jesus told many parables that illustrate this motion. One of these is quite puzzling. In Matthew 13:24-30, we find the parable of the seeds: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away" (Matthew 13:24-25). Soon, up came both the wheat and the weeds. The man's servants were puzzled about the weeds' appearance because they had clearly seen him sow only good seed. The man's response showed that he knew what was happening. "An enemy did this," he explained.
Picture posted by Phil Rigdon on 15 July 2020
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68P81naEpp84IMIybQFM3ThLEFlu9tTM2UUWwkM2PFcW1B5lSV569554SRhjz70y68n4A3vgaIa7kPuwlki7h4X9C2ozzNSaG7MshyqxljN3711KI3t4yYV3ZFP-5aQR1nxFeMD5RmC0M_mA62RqI-dOFa21OU7M4n5LSwGQZFmePoiT-y8HLQWjufLA/s1000/digging-deeper-into-scripture-matthew.jpg
https://blog.cph.org/hs-fs/hubfs/_blogs/CPH_blog/Study/2020/07/digging-deeper-into-scripture-matthew.jpg?width=1000&height=561&name=digging-deeper-into-scripture-matthew.jpg
https://blog.cph.org/study/digging-deeper-into-scripture-matthew-13
The enemy was busy at work, but in the cover of darkness, when everyone "was sleeping" (Matthew 13:25). Wherever good seed was diligently sown, the enemy would sow bad seed. No one noticed or knew, except the owner of the field.

PHOTO: The enemy was busy at work, but in the cover of darkness, when everyone "was sleeping" (Matthew 13:25). Wherever good seed was diligently sown, the enemy would sow bad seed. No one noticed or knew, except the owner of the field.
Picture posted by Eugène Burnand
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXZHKaURT3ru1LbdV1NoeARPg9yuiEgaTASuUvUs9lRtE_YSF_YczSmFOgXe5DZdI36pkOajYRUu9xOATabCYeMIwJKk7lShBS8x2dL__IBHLzk_QW2kPUcfK9sR6JEVL8aABcG_x71reOOuFb6_XGoWRrjNo7cBVrVyNHENMwdhQxnwFHcYJ2_dEHy8/s1179/tares3.jpg
https://www.eugene-burnand.com/Parables/parables%20images/tares3.jpg
https://www.eugene-burnand.com/Parables/tares.htm
Let us consider two kinds of fields. The first is the mission field. The more good seed is sown, the more the devil will sow evil seed. We should not be surprised by this. Neither should we be caught unaware. Instead, we should be discerning, wise, and prayerful. In the mission field, we will observe "weeds" appearing from time to time. Individuals we had trusted will turn out to have been untrustworthy. Divisions, misunderstandings, and strife will occur. Gross wrongdoing may be uncovered. These things should concern but not surprise us. Indeed, where we see great manifestations of the good seed, there also may be found evidence of Satan's evil weeds.

PHOTO: Let us consider two kinds of fields. The first is the mission field. The more good seed is sown, the more the devil will sow evil seed. We should not be surprised by this. Neither should we be caught unaware. Instead, we should be discerning, wise, and prayerful. In the mission field, we will observe "weeds" appearing from time to time. Individuals we had trusted will turn out to have been untrustworthy. Divisions, misunderstandings, and strife will occur. Gross wrongdoing may be uncovered. These things should concern but not surprise us. Indeed, where we see great manifestations of the good seed, there also may be found evidence of Satan's evil weeds.
Picture posted by Eugène Burnand
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJ8QxvFKAvJmeumnS6VaJUXz7kzM753msOS_qfazGU951c2W1Ch-SgKIv4lE1sboFRLqq3NkC9kJJajjL0eCTgttRvngq0sgvmZOk9BuYH8yghH3jr23XaV_2Bf3JHO2RXZ3pU214bFBOmQCT2yC8XGE7Xh29tN3JOtymXRvzlcjQVbrvJP2gpuN3a2A/s1000/tares1.jpg
https://www.eugene-burnand.com/Parables/parables%20images/tares1.jpg
https://www.eugene-burnand.com/Parables/tares.htm
Our response should be to pray hard for our mission fields. One difficulty is that wheat and weeds may look very much alike, at least initially and on a superficial (surface) level. But as time goes on, the differences will emerge. Spiritual discernment, fervent prayer, and wise, practical discretion will be of great help in this matter.

PHOTO: Our response should be to pray hard for our mission fields. One difficulty is that wheat and weeds may look very much alike, at least initially and on a superficial (surface) level. But as time goes on, the differences will emerge. Spiritual discernment, fervent prayer, and wise, practical discretion will be of great help in this matter.
Picture posted by Power of Positivity on 07 August 2014
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Zt4GuLv_on7lokQRVuvNa8bc9LqS5KE1hYkKed1dTSG7RNWcMXcQKu07pbFFza1lx3TxefNmYwCI6g50Pezz9T5Ju2lJO06R1ej5qEfDbptINtErqckOgivaEEsCqZ20yCpiBJ6fMvb0rhKIX3v9lIThSAvbQo9ocFHQe0VGY9JmZ4yC6PXkRunQ8kE/s1688/thankful.png
https://cdn.powerofpositivity.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/thankful.jpg
https://www.powerofpositivity.com/thankful-improves-health/
The second kind of field is our own heart. In his book, Wrestling with Christ, Italian spiritual writer Luigi Santucci explores the idea.
"Every evening I lie down like that field under the stars and I'm that tangle of different grasses . . . the good stalks and bad stalks get inextricably (inseparably) interwoven . . . When I perform some action of generous innocence, straightaway some selfish calculation crops up - in the impulse to help, a vain self-satisfaction; in the consoling caress (stroke gently or lovingly), a hint of lechery (lust); in my evening prayer of thanksgiving, some base superstition (Murphy's Law - anything that can go wrong will go wrong)." [1a]

PHOTO: "Every evening I lie down like that field under the stars and I'm that tangle of different grasses . . . the good stalks and bad stalks get inextricably (inseparably) interwoven . . . When I perform some action of generous innocence, straightaway some selfish calculation crops up - in the impulse to help, a vain self-satisfaction; in the consoling caress (stroke gently or lovingly), a hint of lechery (lust); in my evening prayer of thanksgiving, some base superstition (Murphy's Law - anything that can go wrong will go wrong)."
Picture posted by Vinsensius Antonius
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAC2Iq-heie7WVMKtmrGfwlflIT7sjQdz-Me-CkyIOnFGjamOcjERUeXxsn8iKhlIMqXtxnUa_dm1fycw32Y9NbU4SPnxuPTCVBP7N0UVrudv2NGTbFpEhb1_BsuIH4tvCMRJshzot71OW1KZS00eQY9r5gpb4WgZnubVO7o2Bzwb4f2jrRxsX3N8o8A/s1920/8c0670ef13fb070881177b45b9c3d5e3.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/8c/06/70/8c0670ef13fb070881177b45b9c3d5e3.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/812125745341903584/
Being involved in missions can lull (calm) us into thinking that all our missionary impulses are from God. Yet, the enemy's seeds often lurk deep within us.
We must therefore turn to the Master - to pray that His seed will flourish in our missions and our hearts, and that the enemy's weeds will wither and die. Only God can see to this. Hence our need to pray, both for ourselves and for the mission field.

PHOTO: Being involved in missions can lull (calm) us into thinking that all our missionary impulses are from God. Yet, the enemy's seeds often lurk deep within us.
Picture posted by mystic muse
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRArM-1C3_Be3H32AeBmTATrwrTklcKD4phiGzbtgByWiOifhaAi8cbarnRWvRBE6zJn3sD8dvqDWySwwK1dOxezxNCP10C9-yJaCStOvczZMpLmh28rkty5HFsqkBhzDRLf8K-u5Va2ltQC0x5XveeE1aASX_K_KX59jC81kP1NEN1TcCaW72NE_nleQ/s1200/5f34da43a93f002944bcd5c8b394dcc7.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/5f/34/da/5f34da43a93f002944bcd5c8b394dcc7.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/22166223162994057/

PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that we turn to the Master - to pray that His seed will flourish in our missions and our hearts, and that the enemy's weeds will wither and die.
Because only God can see to this. Hence our need to pray, both for ourselves and for the mission field.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Living Words
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https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/82/b4/46/82b446e51742ed4a2613bb3eb926ff00.jpg
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Reflection - Making Disciples - Two Sowers, Two Fields
Source (book): "Making All Things New", 52 Reflections to Challenge the Way You Live, Chapter 51, "Two Sowers, Two Fields", Page 265.
By Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012

Reflection - Faithful to the end (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2017/06/reflection-faithful-to-end-links.html
"Finding rest for the soul" Responding to Jesus' Invitation in Matthew 11:28-29, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2018/10/reflection-finding-rest-for-soul-links.html
"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-i.html
"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-iv.html
"Songs of Christmas", The Stories and Significance of 20 Well-Loved Carols, © 2018 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/04/reflection-songs-of-christmas-links.html
"Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, © 2019 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part I - III (Links), posted on Wednesday, 09 December 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part.html

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part IV - V (Links), posted on Thursday, 22 April 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part_9.html
"Teach Us to Number Our Days", © 2008 by David Roper

Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 1 - 40 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 November 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/11/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-1-40.html

Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 41 - 64 (Links), posted on Wednesday, 16 March 2022
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/03/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-41.html
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/08/reflection-he-walks-with-me-links.html
"Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Copyright © 2021 by Our Daily Bread Ministries

Reflection - Classic Gem, Chapter 1 - 45 (Links), posted on 03 April 2023
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2023/04/reflection-classic-gem-chapter-1-45.html
"Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Copyright © 2021 by Our Daily Bread Ministries

Reflection - Classic Gem, Chapter 46 - 90 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 24 October 2023
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2023/10/reflection-classic-gem-chapter-46-90.html

[1a] Luigi Santucci, Westling with Christ (London Fontana Books, 1974), 117.
New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Matthew 13:24-25 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2013%3A24-25&version=NIV
Matthew 13:24-30 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2013%3A24-30&version=NIV
Matthew 13:25 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2013%3A25&version=NIV
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