Planting seeds

In my very early years of life, I was living on my maternal grandfather’s farm that he managed. I had the experience of seeing him, my family and workers planting small seeds. Most were cotton, corn and soy beans. I got to ride on the horse drawn plow with him and my uncle. And then I got to witness and help plant little seeds, covering them up with the freshly plowed dirt. And a few months later, after a lot of tender loving care plus God’s provision of rain and sun, the crops would begin to grow and ultimately produce their fruit of whatever nature. To a young boy, this was very eye-opening.

Now, as an old man, I am getting to experience that all over again but of a spiritual nature. The eventual fruit is the salvation of many and the discipleship of an incredible number of fathers. Verses that reflect the process of planting and harvesting are in I Corinthians 3.6-9.

Planting spiritual seeds

Paul says, “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.”

As I look back over the past 13 years since God led me to write a book on fatherhood, I relate to this set of verses. I guess you could say, I planted, and many others of you have watered, and still are, but God is the one who is giving the growth. And God will do the rewarding. And look what he says that we are. We are God’s fellow workers, God’s field, God’s building”. Rejoice in this!!

The guidance of the Spirit

My firsthand experience in Rwanda, Africa a week ago dramatically impressed upon me the awesome power of God. I planted a seed, so to speak, at his Spirit’s direction and under his guidance, and now I’m getting to see what he has done and is continuing to do just in Africa alone. Surely, nothing is impossible with God. Jesus said to his disciples. ‘For truly, I say to you, “If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, move from here to there, and it will move and nothing will be impossible for you”’. (Mt. 16.20-21)

So, what seed is God encouraging you to plant, by faith? What mountain in your life is standing in the way of bringing glory to God? Jesus again said to his disciples, “with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”. (Mt. 19.26b) And you will be singing his praises for eternity. This benediction in Eph. 3. 20,21 sums it all up.

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

So, why not start planting some Kingdom seeds today!!