The seed and time for harvest: IT IS WRITTEN

The seed and time for harvest: IT IS WRITTENGod's word is the seed that needs to be planted and nourished in the soil of our hearts, so that it can grow and produce good fruit.

by Sue Le Marquand

13-07-2022 01:00

in Christian Connect

Then he told them many things in parables, saying: A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

I have not done much gardening in my life, but during COVID, I started to take an interest and have found the process quite enlightening. The other day, I broke open a flower that had gone to seed and was amazed at how many seeds were in that one little pod! It seems that there is no shortage of seeds! However, the problem is:

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Seeds don't have value unless they are planted

Plants/fruit cannot grow and multiply if the soil is not fertile to receive the seed

The process takes time and requires patience

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A plentiful harvest cannot be reaped unless there are sufficient laborers

The Parable of the Sower and the Kingdom of God 3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8Still another seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop-a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

Matthew 13:3-8 (NIV) God's word is the seed that needs to be planted and nourished in the soil of our hearts, so that it can grow and produce good fruit. Many of us take the production of fruit for granted without giving it much thought.

If you do think about those tiny, insignificant looking seeds, it is quite miraculous to consider that they grow into delicious edible fruit. Likewise, it is awesome to see how God manages to produce the fruits of His Spirit in the lives of His ordinary, everyday people!

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Our Father, the master gardener The seed needs to be sown in fertile soil: We need to be prepared to have to deal with manure in our lives! The process can be painful as we allow God to walk around the garden of our hearts, pointing out the dry and crusty places as we embrace the truth of His word, through surrendered thoughts, words, and deeds.

The soil needs to be tilled: We need to ask God to soften our hearts and plow up any hard ground caused by resentment, hurt, bitterness, and anger. We need to repent and then surrender to Him as he methodically digs deep into the painful places, to restore the hardened paths back to fertility after years of trampling!

Allow time for germination: We need to be patient with ourselves (and others) as the seed germinates, even though it can feel like a dark and fruitless season. We need to trust the law of planting and reaping, believing that God is faithful to His Word, and He WILL bring it to fruition. Just as plants need sunlight and rain to grow, we too need to keep ourselves in the light of His Son, and allow for the washing with water through the Word (Ephesians 5:26)

Labour to bring in the Harvest: We need to be prepared and ready to obey God's call. God is miraculously at work behind the scenes bringing about His Kingdom of righteousness and peace in each of our lives. His Kingdom priorities are to make His people whole and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:4), able to produce fruit a hundred-fold (Mark 4:20).

As we co-labour with him, we can't help but be transformed, leading to a deeper trust in Him.

35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.37 Then he said to his disciples, The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

Matthew 9:35-38 (NIV) PRAYER Thank you Father, for revealing the secrets of your Kingdom to your people. Thank you for the magnificent plan you have had since the beginning of creation, and we know that you will bring it all to completion in your perfect timing. Help us apply the principles of this parable to our lives, so that we can become fruitful. In the mighty name of Jesus,

Amen.

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