Spiritual Transformation Path

According to Christian Leadership Magazine, "Transformation is not just an attitude; it's a changed life... a response to God and God's action. It requires our deliberate, humble participation."

To help, GIFT has developed a Spiritual Transformation Path - leveraging the wisdom in the Parable of the Sower - to guide us in living more like Christ and impacting others with His love.

Importantly, as we walk along life's path, we need to make sure we're always growing in a right relationship with God, being transformed by His Word and Presence always directing us, undeterred, toward continually living and loving more like Christ.

We should reflect upon the Parable of the Sower below.

Then reflect on Jesus' explanation regarding each of the seed plantings beneath the visuals along the Path below. And finally, click through to the transforming thoughts regarding what the Parable means, how it applies to our life, and how it's supported by other reinforcing scripture.

The Parable Of The Sower

(Mark 4:1-20, NAB)

"Hear this! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain. And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."

The explanation Jesus gave of the Parable for each seed planting along the path is provided below. It's dissected into components and supported visually, so we can reflect on it and retain its message. And it's further supported with Transformational Thoughts that are available if we click the "Thoughts" button to go to supporting material and scripture.

After reading each of Jesus' explanations of each seed planting, reflect further on the message Jesus gives us by viewing the related Scripture Art and hovering precisely over the Transformational "Thoughts."

GIFT Transformational Thoughts encourage you to consider where you are in your righteous response to God's love and His Word. We want this Path to help guide your transformation into Christ-likeness through emphasizing the living Word of God - so you'll live a life of loving God and loving others.

Remember, as you consider Jesus' explanation of each seed planting, refer to the accompanying Scripture Art for reinforcement. (Hover over the artwork for greater legibility.) And then refer to other GIFT Scripture Posters to live out the Parable, actively pursuing God's Word and letting the Word of God transform you.

This Transformational Path is complemented by GIFT Spiritual Posters. The posters are designed to encourage our transformation in a particular area. Visit the GIFT Poster Gallery for encouragement. The Path and posters can also be used to guide others in their transformation.

The Parable's message is simple: Just like in farming, where good seed must be planted in good soil, God's Word must be planted in us - as a priority in our mind and in our heart - with fertile conditions that enable that seed to grow and produce a yield. In particular, we should always seek to be humble - considering humility comes from the root word humus, which refers to optimum soil conditions for yielding a fruitful harvest.

Importantly, if we ever do veer off the right path where our life isn't in a right relationship with God not producing fruit, we can always get back on the right path through the love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and power of Jesus - and through receiving and following His Word.

And always remember the role of the Church in keeping us on the right path: "The Church wishes to transform the world through the proclamation of the Gospel of love, that can always illuminate a world grown dim and give us the courage needed to keep living and working... and in this way... cause the light of God to enter into the world," Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI.