Have you ever thought of your heart as a bed of soil for the seed of God’s Word to grow? When better than spring—a time known for new growth—to consider the soil of our hearts? How well does it allow the word of the Lord to grow? Won’t you join me this week as we search for answers? You might be as surprised by what we discover!
Planting Seed
“Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others.”
Mark 4:13-14 NLT
Soil isn’t the only thing important for effective seed growth. The planting of the seed is just as vital because, without proper planting, no seed will grow.
Years ago, I wanted to help my mother grow vegetables in our backyard garden. One day she asked me to plant the row of onions while she went inside to take care of something. “No problem, Mother, I can do that!” However, it seemed to take them a long while to come up. After no sight of onions for some time, my mother asked me if I’d ever even planted them. I assured her I had.
“Then why aren’t they showing,” she queried? Finally, she went out to check them herself and discovered that I’d placed each bulb in the ground pointy-side down. No wonder they weren’t growing. I’d planted them upside down. They’d never grow that way. Turns out I didn’t have any idea of how to plant the onions because I’d never actually seen her do it nor did I bother to ask. I mean, how hard could it be, right? You’ve got a bulb, you’ve got the ground, and you shove it in there, voila! I thought I knew. Had I simply asked, wouldn’t she have told me? Of course she would.
The same principle applies with spreading God’s Word. Read today’s Dose verse. God commands us to spread the Good News of salvation to others. But, if our hearts are not receptive to the Holy Spirit and God’s word, like those of the religious leaders Jesus spoke to in parables, we won’t be equipped to plant His seed to anyone.
When our hearts are right toward the Lord, the Holy Spirit works in and through us to plant the seed of God’s word into the hearts and lives of others. We need only be willing and ask Him to do so.
There are so many people around us who don’t know the hope of salvation and new life in Christ Jesus. Maybe you’re saying today that this is you, Dear Lady. Do you want Him to change you? He’s waiting to, just ask.
If you’re already a believer, have you asked the Master Planter how He wants to use you to effectively sew the seed of His Word into the lives of people within your sphere of influence today? He is faithful and will provide you with the answer.
Planting the seed,
Rita