God’s gift . . .
Planting Seeds for Christ
A seed contains a miracle . . . If you look at it from the outside, or touch it, it appears hard, dry, perhaps even dead and incapable of producing anything . . . But place it in the right ground, give it water and care, and life begins to stir . . . The outer shell gives way, as the inner kernel comes alive by the mystery of growth . . . The inner powers of the kernel are released when the seed is in proper soil and receives adequate moisture . . . The kernel germinates and new life begins . . . and growth continues, as long as nourishment and care are offered . . . From that dry, hard seed comes a flower, a plant, or a tree.
In the Parable of the Sower (Luke 8:5-15), Jesus teaches that both seed and soil are necessary for growth . . . The seed is likened to the word of God . . . and the soil is the life and heart of each of us. . . . When seed and soil connect and interact, astonishing growth occurs.
God’s word is God’s utterance, God’s speech, God’s message . . . and His Word conveys valuable knowledge that He wants each of us to know and live by . . . When God’s Word is wholeheartedly embraced and faithfully practiced, His words become “life-bearing” and “life-giving,” generating light and life between God and His people, between people and people, and between people and creation . . . The seeds of His Word, when falling into good soil, will grow and yield a hundred times over.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God …
In Him was light and the light was the life of all people.
And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John 1:1-5
When God plants seeds in us, He is planting godly potential, callings, and purposes designed to grow and bear fruit over our lifetimes for His glory . . . These seeds often represent faith, spiritual gifts, or unexpressed desires that God places within our hearts even before we are aware of them.
Think about this . . . You have a handful of tiny seeds in your hand . . . You dig a little hole in the soil to plant them . . . This is an action of faith—you believe that these small, tiny seeds that look nothing like a real plant have the potential to sprout, grow, and bear fruit.
Faith starts with a small seed of belief and action in the same way . . . You can’t just think about planting seeds . . . you have to actually walk outside into the humidity, get dirty in the soil, and plant the seed . . . Our faith needs to be active in the same way
. . . so that we continue to grow, and so that our relationship with God can also develop and mature . . . Remember, an active faith is a healthy faith.
INSIGHT . . .
We are to scatter the seed of the Gospel, and God makes it grow.
(Billy Graham)
In 2 Corinthians 9, scripture tells us that God gives seed to the Sower . . . this means that there is an expectation from our Lord that we sow seeds into the lives of others with the supply He gives us, just as He sows seeds in us . . . When you see a flower bloom, it should be a sweet reminder of the tremendous privilege and responsibility we have to plant seeds of faith in the lives of people we know. . . It matters in the lives of those people, and it matters to God’s kingdom . . . it matters—eternally!
We are given the task to plant seeds of faith in the lives of the people we meet as well as the people in our own homes, families, and communities . . . Then what happens with those seeds is not in our control . . . we may never see the results of what we have planted and that is okay . . . God controls it all.
“I planted the seed. Apollos watered it, but it was God who kept it growing.
This shows that the one who plants or the one who waters is not the important one.
God is the important One. He makes it grow.”
1 Corinthians 3:6-7
God makes the seeds grow . . . but we still have the responsibility of planting and watering those seeds for God’s kingdom . . . especially when it is God who is in control of the growth and harvest.
We can plant and water, but only God can give life to the seed.
(A.W. Tozer)
Think about this . . . without planting, there is no harvest . . . so—the kids in your home, church, family members, even neighbors are our responsibility—to plant seeds of faith so that God can help them grow . . . When kids see us reading our Bible or hear us praying, that’s planting seeds . . . When you invite your child or grandchild to grab his or her Bible and read with you, that’s watering what you’ve already planted . . . When your family members or neighbors hear you give God credit for what He has provided in your life, that’s planting seeds . . . When you, in turn, provide for your neighbors or family members’ needs, that’s watering what you’ve already planted . . . We don’t know what God’s plans are for anyone we touched, but we do know that He promises that He will grow the seeds that we plant.
Planting seeds of faith spreads and keeps alive the growth of God’s kingdom, as people become followers of Jesus . . . It generates lifestyles that honor and obey God . . . It maintains and extends goodness, kindness, and love in our homes, our neighborhoods, and the world . . . People are reaching—more now than ever before—for God’s warm, loving embrace . . . We need to just keep planting and watering seeds of faith . . . God will grow them into beautiful blossoms or maybe even tall, towering oaks of righteousness for His glory.
INVITATION—TO TALK WITH GOD . . .
What would happen if you planted a seed in your garden and then dug it up each morning to see if anything was happening? . . . It would die and never produce fruit . . . In order for the seed to grow successfully, we have to have faith that the seed is doing what God created it to do, and then let it.
What do you keep digging up over and over again in your life,
not trusting God to be in control?
Some people put God’s Word in their hearts for a day or two, but if they don’t see fruit right away, they dig up the seed again and again through words and actions . . . and then wonder why it didn’t work . . . You have to leave it in the ground, give it time to grow, and allow God to do His work.
Many people are impatient, wanting to bypass the growth cycle, and want to get the “full ear of corn” right now . . . The vision may be good, but expecting God to produce what you want right now isn’t going to happen . . . it is God’s time, not ours.
Where is impatience guiding your behaviors, words, or actions right now in your life?
What do you need to give up to God? . . . to let Him be in control of?
Ask God to help you see what changes you might need to focus on ?
Words matter . . . Words are like seeds . . . Some words are the seeds of weeds and others are the seeds of good fruit . . . Some have the power to strangle and kill . . . others bear good fruit and support life.
The “seeds of God’s Word” is the foundational root in every one of us . . . As God’s children, we are born with the capacity to receive and to be blessings . . . The question is—Are we fertile soil where the blessings of God’s Word will grow in us, grow through us, and connect us to others? . . . Or will we be rocky, rootless, or infertile ground?
What are you doing with the seeds of God’s Word that He has planted in you?
Your mind is a garden. Your thoughts are the seeds.
The harvest can either be flowers or weeds.
(William Wordsworth)
When God’s Word is planted in the good soil of an accepting heart, then attitudes, thoughts, behaviors, choices, beliefs, as well as our level of faith, commitment, obedience, and love for God will align with biblical truths . . . His Word becomes sweet to our taste, and sweeter than honey to our mouths . . . and like the sweet fragrance of a beautiful flower, His Word that comes from our mouths becomes acceptable to God and inviting to others.
“Your words are sweet to my taste!
Yes, they are sweeter than honey in my mouth!”
Psalm 119:103
ILLUMINATION . . .
Pause and reflect for a moment on the dandelion . . . Do you remember when it used to be fun to pick the fluffy, round seed head of a dandelion and blow those seeds everywhere in the wind . . . You were planting seeds in places you never could imagine.
The dandelion, which is mostly thought of as a weed, can be a fascinating and meaningful symbol of hope, strength, and transformation . . . I imagine you’re thinking, “But it’s just a weed” . . . But it is still a part of God’s creation . . .Dandelions are known for their ability to thrive in challenging conditions, even pushing through concrete, and returning year after year . . . This resilience has made them a powerful symbol of strength, determination, and the ability to overcome adversity . . . Just like dandelions, we too, with God’s help, can tap into our inner strength and persevere through life's challenges.
Dandelions also go through a remarkable transformation from bright yellow flowers to delicate, wispy seed heads . . . This metamorphosis represents personal growth, change, and the power of transformation . . . Embracing the dandelion meaning in this context can inspire us to shed old habits, embrace new beginnings, and trust in our ability to evolve.
The next time you spot a dandelion, take a moment to think about its deeper meaning . . . and let it inspire you to overcome whatever adversity is challenging you and embrace the change.
INSPIRATION—PRAYING THROUGH MUSIC . . .
There are two basic types of music lovers –
ones who love the melody and ones who love the lyrics.
Regardless of which gets your attention, just keep a song in your heart.
(Susan ~Home with Grace & Joy)
I encourage you to take time to listen to any or all the songs below . . . there is no right or wrong style of music—it is what speaks to you . . . listen to the melody and the lyrics and feel the response of your heart to what God wants you to hear . . . and I do understand that music doesn’t speak to everyone . . . and that is okay too.
♪♬♪ Current . . . I Believe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrG3RLeqaZ8&list=RDUrG3RLeqaZ8&start_radio=1
♪♬♪ Praise & Worship . . . Build Your Kingdom Here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9USwkHHzZY&list=RDm9USwkHHzZY&start_radio=1
♪♬♪ Traditional . . . Hymn of Promise
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RHek8k5WoY&list=RD8RHek8k5WoY&start_radio=1
INTO EACH DAY AHEAD . . .
Within each seed is the promise of the new creation it will become.
And, within us is the plan God has for the persons we will one day become.
(Joni Eareckson Tada)
What do you do when God plants something upon your heart? . . . I believe everyone has had at least one moment when you sensed God speaking to you . . . but you’re not sure how to move forward . . . left wondering, "Now what?"
We've experienced God in a different way . . . something new has happened in our lives . . .. Maybe we can't even articulate what it is with words . . . So, what do we do now?
Jesus gives us this beautiful picture of spiritual growth in Matthew 13 . . . He gives us an analogy, as He often does, to help us understand what is happening . . .
"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field.
It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants.
It grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches."
Matthew 13:31-32
Something magnificent comes from this insignificant beginning . . . A mustard seed is tiny—about the size of a pinhead . . . It can fit on the tip of your finger . . . it starts so small yet matures into something amazing for God’s creatures.
Jesus's message is clear . . . spiritual growth often starts small and quiet . . . What begins as a whisper in the heart, a gentle nudge from God, can develop into something that impacts not just your life but the lives of those around you.
So, when God plants something in your heart, think about the mustard seed . . . Don't expect an overnight transformation . . . Trust that God is working beneath the surface, because He is! . . . take each day one step at a time, one choice at a time, to allow that tiny seed to grow.
Remember, spiritual growth happens gradually over time, supported by faithful, God-focused decisions, so you need to have patience with the process and yourself . . . be sure to spend intentional time with God through prayer and His Word, so that you can grow in your faith and your relationship with Him . . . and we can see exactly what God intends for us, as He grows within us an incredible passion for living like Him and making a difference in the world around us.
What small seed has God planted in your heart today? . . . Relish the small beginnings—each “seed planted” might just grow into something beautiful that changes everything.
Heavenly Father, help us to develop good soil within our hearts,
so that the seed of Your life-changing Word can flourish and grow throughout our lives.
It is in that good soil of our hearts that truth resonates and rings strong,
and the faith and the love of Your Word grow.
May our trust in You continue to grow and may the words
that we speak share your love and grace to the world. In Jesus’s name—Amen!
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