In the beginning there were seeds God made to grow all kinds of crops of their own kinds. And we all have heard the parable of the farmer scattering seeds in Luke and how the seed is the Word of God. The Bible is scattered with talks about seeds (no pun intended). I started investing “seeds” and how they form a plant, what I found was very fascinating and so cool of how God can take a “seed” and compare it to how we are to live. His analogy is amazing!
Dry seeds you buy, are “dormant “, which means inactive and they just need water to start growing. Seeds actually need 3 things to continue to grow…light, food, and water. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that it’s so. Jesus is the “Light” of the world, the Bible is the Word of God and we are instructed to “eat” it, aka “food”, Jesus promises “Living Water” which He is speaking of Holy Spirit. As a follower of Christ, our lives also require these 3 to live! Holy Spirit stirs us, we go from being inactive to active when we believe Jesus is the Son of God and we start to grow when we read His Word (our food).
But before we can live, we must die to ourselves (1 Corinthians 15:35) just like the seeds. A planted seed dies to “themselves” so the plant can live. Its identity is no longer found in the seed. It becomes something different and lives a new kind of life capable of producing fruit. The seeds that don’t take proper hold in the ground rot away. Like someone who doesn’t believe in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. We live in Jesus when we die to ourselves! We have a new identity in Him! A heart transplant! How do you die to yourself? This is a daily occurrence. Jesus tells us to pick up our cross and follow Him daily. As we eat the Word of God, and Holy Spirit “waters” us, we grow and we learn as we mature what we are supposed to die to, so that we can grow into a beautiful plant to bare good fruit for others to pick and scatter more seeds.
The roots of a plant deliver water from the soil to the plant. As it grows and needs more water, the roots grow longer and stretch farther to find necessary water in the soil. Just like us when our spiritual roots grow they get longer and stronger and we crave the Living Water, so we continue to stretch out in search for Him!
After seeds grow and become who God has called them to be, a harvest time comes. He reminds us in His Word to live righteous so when our seeds are scattered and it’s time to reap the harvest, we reap a harvest of blessings. Galatians 6:7-9 tells us we harvest what we plant. Those who only live to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing good! At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessings if we don’t give up.
Plant the good seeds of righteousness and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the ground of our hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that He may come and shower righteousness upon you. Hosea advises in 10:12
2 Corinthians 9:6 informs us that a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”
When we let the Word of God to be planted in our hearts and tend to it regularly are hearts change and become “good soil”. Staying in His Word will cause our roots to grow deep and being connected to other believers will help strengthen them. When we go about our daily lives and “scatter good seeds” with kindness, love, compassion…. those seeds are falling on all different types of soil. With our testimonies we can witness about God and what He’s done to us and for us. Letting God change us first we can then scatter good seeds everywhere we go. If you scatter, plant, water or reap the harvest it all starts with you and your relationship with Him first.
My prayer for you as we welcome 2020, is that you let God mend your heart, let His Word penetrate deep inside of you so that you may scatter God’s love everywhere you go. May the seeds you scatter be full of love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, patience, faithfulness and self-control. May you never loose hope. If you don’t know this amazing Jesus I speak of, I pray Holy Spirit stirs and awakens your dormant seed. And you ask Him into your heart to change and mold you into the person He has made you to be in Jesus Holy name.
