Jesus speaking: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. … Still, other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” – Luke 8:5, 8
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. …” – Luke 8:11
The seeds from my Advent Seed Calendar (which my son and daughter-in-law gave me for Christmas) were all sown on good soil. The seeds have now sprouted … and as they are growing it is such a good picture to me of what the Word of God looks like when it is “producing growth” in someone’s life.
The same Word of God produces growth which looks completely different in different people’s lives.
Here you can see my Dill, from my Advent Seed Calendar. The Dill is a beautiful plant. It is delicate. It is growing lush in the pot. I can carry my scissors out to the back deck and take some snippets to use when cooking salmon, or rice, etc. The fresh Dill has a wonderfully mild delicate flavor.
This is what the Word of God at work in some people’s lives looks like. These people are rather mild in nature. And just like the Dill they grow in their faith with lives which are lush and beautiful with the love of Jesus; and lives which are lush and beautiful with kindness, compassion, peace, joy, etc. … . These people add a wonderful flavor to the world around them.
The same Word of God at work in someone else’s life might look like the Cress. The Cress is more relaxed and is growing rather haphazardly all over the place. One tiny taste of a Cress sprig gives you a “zing” of flavor.
This is what the Word of God at work in other people’s lives looks like. These people are more relaxed and very comfortable “going with the flow.” They have a bit of “zing” to them. As the Word of God is at work in their life, they demonstrate God’s love in their own relaxed casual way … which is fantastic for where God has “planted” them in life. Their “zing” of flavor is exactly what is needed for what God has called them to do to advance His Kingdom on this earth.
It’s the same Word of God from the same seed … but the growth looks completely different.
I’ve already shared photos of my tray of Butterhead lettuce, Arugula, and Basil. Once again we can think of this as the same seed of the Word of God … yet with completely different results in people’s lives.
For some of us, like the Butterhead lettuce, the Word of God at work in our life is displayed in a very tender way. The Butterhead lettuce leaves are very tender. They tear easily. Yet they are fantastic on sandwiches and in Spring Rolls. The Word of God at work in some people’s lives looks like this. These people are very tenderhearted people … and their tenderhearted love is exactly what is needed for what God has called them to do in life. They demonstrate compassion and kindness in a very tenderhearted way.
Other people are more like the Arugula or the Basil. The Arugula and the Basil are also leaves, yet they are not quite as delicate and tender as the Butterhead lettuce.
Arugula and Basil can withstand pressure a bit more. They can withstand heat a bit more … allowing them to be added as a topping on pizza. The Word of God at work in these people’s lives is like this. They can handle “pressure” situations and “heat” situations a bit better than the Butterhead-lettuce people. Because of this, they can demonstrate the love of God in “pressure” places where God has called them uniquely to make a difference in life. Just as the Arugula and the Basil each have their own unique flavor, so also the Word at God at work in these people’s lives adds their own unique “flavor” as they demonstrate kindness and compassion … as they show joy, as they extend forgiveness … etc. …
It’s the same seed of the Word of God. Yet the growth looks completely different in each person’s life.
Here you can see the Parsley. It took a bit longer for the Parsley to sprout and get going than the Dill did. That doesn’t mean the Dill is better than the Parsley. That doesn’t mean the Parsley is less than the Dill. They are just different.
So also, the Word of God at work in different people’s lives will sprout and grow on different timetables. For some people (like the Dill), the Word of God sprouts immediately … and they quickly start growing for Christ. Right away their life starts adding the “flavor” of Jesus’s love to the world around them.
For other people (like the Parsley), it takes a little bit longer for the Word of God to sprout in their soul. It’s not that there is anything wrong with the seed … it’s just that their faith takes a bit longer to start growing. But once they start growing, they are vigorous growers! The Parsley is a vigorous grower! It is tenacious! It is hardy. “Parsley” people might take a bit for their faith to get going, but once the Word of God takes root in the “soil” of their soul, they are tenacious for the Gospel! They are hardy and they persevere for the Gospel!
Some people are like my Zinnias here. I planted a whole packet of Zinnia seeds. And the birds ate all the seeds … except these two which survived. For some people, the circumstances of life … or perhaps disillusionment … or perhaps preconceived false beliefs … or maybe disappointment & hurts snatch the “seeds” of the Word of God from their life. But not completely. A “seed” or two of the Word of God remains!
The one or two remaining “seeds” of the Word of God sprout in their soul. And their faith starts growing! Even though it looked hopeless, there is always hope! The Word of God sprouts and flowers with the beauty and love of Jesus!
And speaking of looking hopeless … I thought for sure my Wild Strawberry seeds had been eaten by birds or that they simply would not sprout. The Wild Strawberry seeds were miniscule! So very teeny tiny! Every other pot of seeds on my back deck had lots of growth … and yet the pot of Wild Strawberry seeds remained empty.
For some people, the “seed” of the Word of God in their life looks like this. The “seed” of the Word of God is like very tiny miniscule “seeds” sprinkled into their life here and there. But time passes … and it doesn’t seem like the “seed” of the Word of God is going to be able to sprout in their soul.
We pray and pray and pray for these people! We pray for their salvation! We pray that they will come to faith in Jesus Christ!
But we wonder if there is hope.
Then one day … a teeny tiny little miniscule green leaflet appears. We’re in shock! I had given up on the Wild Strawberries. I honestly didn’t think anything would come from that pot. But there are now numerous teeny tiny little miniscule green leaflets appearing in the pot. It wasn’t hopeless! It just took a lot of time!
So also, when it comes to those in our life whom we are praying for … don’t stop praying! It might be like the Wild Strawberry seeds. The “seeds” of the Word of God are there in their life! It might just take a long time. Don’t stop praying!
The Word of God is like “seed” sown into the “soil” of people’s soul.
Sometimes the “seed” of the Word of God sprouts quickly in people’s lives and grows like Dill, filling the pot of their life with lush delicate growth, and bringing a mild delicate flavor of the love of Jesus to the world around them.
Sometimes the “seed” of the Word of God in people’s lives is like Cress … these people share the love of God in a more relaxed, “go with the flow” way; and as they grow for Christ they do so with a bit of “zing.”
Sometimes the “seed” of the Word of God in people’s lives looks like tenderhearted people … much like the tender Butterhead lettuce. Other times the “seed” of the Word of God in people’s lives looks more like Arugula or Basil, which can better handle “pressure” situations and “heat” situations.
Sometimes the “seed” of the Word of God in people’s lives looks like Parsley, where faith takes a bit longer to get going … but once faith starts growing there is a hardy, tenaciousness for the Gospel!
Sometimes the “seed” of the Word of God in people’s lives looks like Zinnias … which the birds ate almost all of … except two! And the two grew! The “seed” of the Word of God in these people’s lives survives to grow and bloom in spite of the setbacks!
And sometimes the “seed” of the Word of God in people’s lives looks like the Wild Strawberry seeds … which appeared like they simply would not sprout, ever. But the “seed” of the Word of God can sprout! No matter the length of time. Keep praying!
“A sower went out to sow his seed. …”
