Sow the Seed!

My wife, Maryanne, recently received some very special tomato seeds through the mail. I bought her a tray and special soil to start growing them in. She planted them, kept them warm, and watered them faithfully, yet after a couple of weeks there was still no sign of any growth. She began to wonder if she was doing something wrong. “Perhaps the seeds have died and they will never grow”, she thought. Then one morning several tiny green shoots appeared. Today there are 24 green shoots and some already have leaves. “Isn’t it amazing”, I thought aloud to Maryanne, “those tiny seeds that you sowed will one day produce many large tomatoes!”

We all know that a seed may produce a plant or tree or some sort. In the Bible, God sometimes uses a “seed” to represent his word.

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”

(I Peter 1:23)

In John chapter 3, God says plainly that we “must be born again”. This new life starts with a seed; the seed of God’s incorruptible word. This “seed” must be “sown” to a heart by a sower. It must be “received” by the heart. Then, God will make it grow.

“He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

(Psalms 126:6)

Our culture often wants “instant gratification”, but God requires that his servants be patient. The sowing of seed is a labor that does not produce immediate results. Sometimes, like when my wife planted the tomato seeds, we wonder if it will produce any results at all. But God says that there is no doubt that the sowing of his precious word will produce fruit.

“But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

(Romans 8:25)

“And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.”

(Mark 4:26-27)

You or I may “rise” in prayer many days and nights, waiting for the word that we have sown to spring and grow up. We do not know how it will happen. This is God’s doing and it is wonderful.

“So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”

(I Corinthians 3:7)

“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.

Behold,

the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth,

and hath long patience for it,

until he receive the early and latter rain.”

(James 5:7)