Mark 4:26-29: Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.”(NLT)
The truth is a seed worth sowing even though the process does not provide immediate gratification. When you plant a seed, does it sprout seconds later or even a day later? What about if you stand there looking at it, waiting for the moment it shoots up from the earth? Does it sprout any faster?
Many people might argue it takes longer that way because you get bored pretty quickly. But if we wait patiently and the seed is planted in the right environment and nurtured with intentionality, in time, it will grow. And while it grows what do farmers do? They focus on the other tasks that need their attention while they wait.
The manifestation of God’s promises can be like the growing process of a seed. Sometimes, we get frustrated at the difference between we currently are and the promises of God to us. We wonder: why I haven’t changed?; why haven’t situations changed?; why haven’t people around me changed?.
God is reminding us today about the process a seed undergoes.
All we can do as farmers is plant the seed: read our Bibles, engage in fellowship, walk in humility when we are faced with discipline, and be attentive to what the Holy Spirit is saying to us.
The Bible says that it is God that brings the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6-8). We should focus on cultivating an environment that is conducive to growth (Matthew 13:1–23).
A good environment for the Word of God to bear the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) is cultivated when we put to death our fleshly deeds and desires (Colossians 3: 5) by the power of God.
No progress is immediate. We build brick by brick. So, look to Jesus and keep sowing the seed. The Word of God accomplishes everything that it is sent out to do (Isaiah 55:11); just believe in the waiting because the children of God live by faith.
That means we continue to trust in the truth that is sown, we continue to trust in the giver of all truth, and we never stop living in the light of this trust. We will see the fruit of His promise just like Psalm 27:13 says we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
PRAYER: Lord thank you for your Word and the truth that you provide through it. Help me to be patient and realize that the truth is a seed that needs time to grow. In Jesus’ name, Amen.