For years, I've been enamored of farmers. How completely trusting they are as they prepare and seed the soil, row after row. While knowing the crop could be thwarted by drought, pests, or flood, the farmer faithfully sows to completion.
They get up early to tend to their planted seeds, never stopping until they see results. Farmers sacrifice sleep and work long hours to ensure the success of the field they've planted. They'll use fertilizer to boost germination and growth and track weather patterns to time the seeding ahead of a forecasted rainshower.
I am guilty of allowing that seed to sit because of my own hesitation to sow it. I wonder, what if I'm rejected by those I try to share Jesus with? Yet, who would I be if I didn't lose sleep, time, and popularity to do the hard work Christ already did for me? Giving others hope and sharing the peace of Christ matters more now than ever. I couldn't live with myself, otherwise.
As Christ-followers, we are given a spiritual seed that needs to be sown. The question is, what kind of soil will we sow into? Our own selfish ambitions? Will we become idle and the seeds worthless? Or, will we work, like that farmer, to yield a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times (v. 8)? It's a sobering challenge.
The world is a daunting place but there's work to be done. As believers in Christ, may we forego our individual fears and sow our seed, no matter what, trusting the results to our Father.
Heavenly Father, give me a fearless heart to sow the seed you've given me, into this world. Let me do my part and allow you to do yours, trusting in your timing. It is in Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Go Deeper — Have you been discouraged because you have planted seeds but never witnessed any growth? If anyone was influential in you accepting Jesus into your heart, will you make it a point of letting them know?
Photo Credit: Joshua Lanzarini