Day 7: Sowing Seed
We don’t typically think of planting around Christmas. It’s too cold where we live. But God may have other ideas—He might see it as the perfect time for planting.
What seems like a lifetime ago, my husband and I planted our first vegetable garden. We had no experience other than those moments in Sunday school, when wide-eyed children plant marigold seeds, hopeful flowers will appear in time to wow their moms on Mothers Day.
So we dug in the dirt, droppped the seeds in the ground, and waited. To our surprise we had more beets, carrots, and summer squash than we knew what to do with! Pickled beets for everyone!
God’s word is like that. We plant the seeds of the word. Seeds like love and grace. Story seeds. Seeds that tell about Jesus: his birth, his life, his death and resurrection. Then we wait—and hope.
The apostle Paul explained this process to the Corinthian believers: “I planted. Apollos watered. But God made it grow (1 Corinthians 3:6).” Our job may be to plant, or sow the seed—to tell the story. Or our job may be to tend the garden—to provide plant food and water to help the seed to grow. But all the growth comes from God.
Have planted any seeds lately?
TO PONDER: I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to grow anything. I came up with lots of excuses. It wasn’t enough to just have the seeds. I needed to make sure they were planted. What keeps you from sowing seed? Are you helping the seeds of faith to grow, in yourself or others?
TO DISCUSS: Where is your spiritual garden? Whose life has God invited you to sow seed into? Are you ready to water others? How can you be more ready.
PRAYER: Seeds are such small things, God. Yet you call us to plant seeds, words of faith, words of hope, into the lives of others. Help us to be faithful this holy season to be aware of where we can be planting for you. Amen.
Pot of Manna 