Planting Seeds

When I was a child in Adams County in central Pennsylvania, our family planted large gardens with corn, beans, watermelons, potatoes, and all sorts of plants. I would walk outside each morning to see how much the seeds had grown. This memory reminded me of Jesus’ parable of the mustard seed in which He says of the Kingdom of God: 

“It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade” (Mark 4:30-32).

Those tiny seeds maturated, and we were able to enjoy the vegetables for meals. We had to battle hot, rainy, and cools days to assist the growth of the vegetables. Rabbits would come and eat the plants. We created fences to keep the critters from the garden. Sometimes it was discouraging after all the work. But we kept at the garden.

I thought about that idea with our Christian lives. No matter how hard our past has been, no matter who has betrayed you, gossiped about you, lied or stolen from you, the seeds of God’s word you plant will bear fruit. We cannot allow the past to haunt or shape our future. Yes, our ultimate destination is Heaven, but we have a life to live today and enjoy with people and the Lord.

Friends, when you continue to sow the seed of God’s word, your spiritual growth is unlimited! Life is about where you’re going, not only where you’ve been. Are you planting God’s seed in the fertile ground of your life? You have the privilege to commit yourself to the Lord’s word, devote yourself, water, and care for it. God’s guarantees His seeds will produce God’s kingdom. I want to encourage you now to plant the seeds of God in the lives of the people you meet every day. God promises to grow the seed. Our part is to participate and plant the seed. We have the easy part; God does the miraculous part!

In this summer of the Holy Spirit, may God awaken your heart as you read this message. Believe and trust in His growth for your life!