Plant the seed and God makes it grow

On Father’s Day in June, we were given two small tomato plants. I planted them in the same tub, put them in a hot, sunny place, and give them buckets of water. These two little plants are now more than seven feet tall and 3-4 feet across —from a couple of tiny seeds to a bush covered with fruit.

At one point in the ministry of Jesus, He compared the kingdom of God with a grain of mustard seed. It is a small seed, “yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” (Mark 4:30–34)

The key verses for this devotional study speak also of growth saying the church is “the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, (with) Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone” growing not into a tree in this metaphor, but “a holy temple in the Lord.” (Ephesians 2:19–21)

The book of Acts mentions this enormous growth in several places too. Early on, the disciples were speaking to the people when “the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.” (Acts 4:1–4)

God was doing what He said He would do; He was changing those who were called “Not My People” and calling them, “You are my people.” They were responding with, “You are my God. ” (Hosea 2:23) This pointed forward to Gentiles, formerly not God’s people, but He had a plan. As they heard the Gospel, “they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.” (Acts 13:48)

The Bible calls this a mystery that the Gentiles became “fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (Ephesians 3:6) even though the Old Testament is full of references to God’s plan of blessing the entire world through Abraham and his offspring. It seemed impossible, but by His grace, the mystery unfolded.

The point is that God build or grows His church. The disciples then and His disciples today have a role; we are to share the good news of Christ’s life, death, resurrection and His offer of justification by faith, but while we plant and water those seeds, it is God who provides the increase. As Paul said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:6–9)

As a Christian, I know I am to tell others about Jesus, but it is God who makes things happen. For me, the bottom line of all of this is not to let my fears, or my sense of inadequacy become a hindrance. Actually, praising God and telling others about Jesus is the easy part — God Himself does the difficult stuff in that He produces results.

To Live is Christ — blessed because I am His

The Old Testament prophets gave to God’s people His messages. Some were hopeful and filled with promise. Others were warnings that in our vernacular would sound something like “Shape up or ship out.”

When they obeyed, God’s favor was shown them in many ways, particularly by prosperity. He blessed them with good crops and success. When they disobeyed Him, He warned them of curses like famine, war and drought.

These days many tend not to think of the events of life having any relation to their spiritual lives. Part of that is because life seems so haphazard, even unfair. The pagans might be filthy rich and the faithful might be desperately poor. We obey God and life hands us financial reverses. However, success and prosperity are not always measured in money.

After a time of disobedience, the Israelites may have thought God would give up on them. They had lost much and their future looked bleak. However, He told them this would not be the case.

Then I will sow her (Israel) for Myself in the earth, and I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; then I will say to those who were not My people, ‘You are My people!’ and they shall say, ‘You are my God!’ (Hosea 2:23)

Their blessing was not in money but in relationship. They would be the people of God, unique in a world of idol worshipers and pagans. Yet the wording seems odd. God says He will sow His people in the earth, like seeds. What is that about? Yet as I consider what happens to a seed in the ground, it makes sense. The seed dies, or appears to. Then life comes from it, and it grows and produces more seed. This is exactly what God intends from His people, Israel then, and Christians now. We are supposed to reproduce others like ourselves, just as Jesus said in the New Testament.

I tell you for certain that a grain of wheat that falls on the ground will never be more than one grain unless it dies. But if it dies, it will produce lots of wheat. If you love your life, you will lose it. If you give it up in this world, you will be given eternal life. (John 12:24–25, CEV)

While this sounds like surrender earns eternal life, the rest of the Bible shows that this is not what Jesus is saying. How it works is when Jesus plant us, we give our lives back to Him. It is as natural as planting seeds. We die to self and the mysterious life of Christ in us is life like that in a seed — it may seem dead but grows to produce fruit.

A few weeks ago someone asked me how God used me and how did I know when it happened. This is a good question. I replied that I’m not sure I always know and it is better that way. Sometimes I think I did or said nothing of particular spiritual value and others tell me that God used me to bless them. Other times I think I did something God wanted and maybe got a bit proud of myself, but saw no return for my efforts. Just as a ‘dead’ seed can grow, this life of Christ is mysterious. When will it pop up? The best way to ‘know’ is by faith. God says that when I abide in Christ and obey Him, my life will be fruitful. I must simply believe it and act accordingly.

The blessings are not about money or prosperity. Instead, God gives peace in turmoil, joy in sorrow, strength in weakness, and a host of other unexplained yet glorious experiences. These are not rewards for obedience, but God’s way of proving that I am His child and He is my God.

To Live is Christ — planted in the earth

Driving through Idaho we see farmers beginning to harvest. Most crops are still green and cut for silage. Other fields are ripe and golden, not quite ready for swathing or a combine, but full of promise for a bumper crop. These bring back memories of growing up on a farm, and being involved in seeding and harvest time.

My devotional reading talks about sowing seeds too. This time it is not wheat or grain, but God sowing His people in the earth and being kind to them. They did not do anything to deserve His blessing, but He intended to change their hearts and make them His people.

Then I will sow her (Israel) for Myself in the earth, and I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; then I will say to those who were not My people, ‘You are My people!’ and they shall say, ‘You are my God!’  (Hosea 2:23)

The Bible often uses illustrations from farming. In the New Testament, Jesus also talked about sowing seeds. This time He refers to a basic principle; unless a seed dies in the soil, it cannot produce a crop. 

I tell you for certain that a grain of wheat that falls on the ground will never be more than one grain unless it dies. But if it dies, it will produce lots of wheat. If you love your life, you will lose it. If you give it up in this world, you will be given eternal life. If you serve me, you must go with me. My servants will be with me wherever I am. If you serve me, my Father will honor you. (John 12:24–26, CEV)

I’m not too sure how many heads of wheat grow on one plant produced by a single seed, but that increase is a farmer’s livelihood. It also makes no sense that a seed will grow once it is planted. That single seed seems to rota and die yet something remains and it sends out a living shoot. It grows and eventually produces a harvest.

Jesus is illustrating a principle for spiritual fruitfulness. Those people trying to preserve their lives will lose it when it comes to eternity and to living for God. No one can serve the Lord and be selfish. Instead, Jesus calls for death to self and to all that I want to do with my life. To serve Him, I must die and as He says, this death will produce a harvest.

A harvest of what? The Bible says I am to be fruitful. Jesus mentions this dozens of times. He says, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4) making it clear that to produce a harvest, I need to both die to self and cling to Him.

Some of this is attitude fruit. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” I know from this and from experience that these things come from the Lord Jesus Christ, and without Him, I cannot produce such attitudes. Selfishness can fake them, but not for long. Eventually fake fruit rots without any harvest whatsoever. 

Jesus also spoke of a different kind of fruitfulness, that which produces a harvest of souls. This is a metaphor for bringing people to salvation through faith in Him. 

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:36–38)

Some Christians seem to be gifted in soul-winning. They are winsome and bold, able to draw people to God. I’m not one of them. Yet this does not excuse me. I’m to bear fruit in the sense of letting the Holy Spirit fill me with good attitudes, and in the sense of being part of the harvest by telling others about Him.

None of this happens unless He is first my God, and second, I am abiding in Him. This is about total trust and total abandonment. This cannot happen unless I’m filled with the Holy Spirit, as opposed to being filled with me, myself, and I. I have to tell people about Jesus, filled with Holy Spirit attitudes. As one saint says, sometimes I must also use words.

My life cannot bear fruit unless God plants me in this earth. I need to die to all that I want and do what He wants. Each time I see a field of ripening wheat, God uses it as another reminder that this is why I am here.