Reflections on Seeds
I do not have a green thumb, but I try. This week I have been watching a flower bed in front of my house. I know it is early, but I could not wait any longer. So about two weeks ago, I went out and planted some flower seeds. Last Friday, I saw the first of the shoots begin to make their way through the soil.
Success! I thought, and then I realized what was had popped through was not my flowers at all, it was weeds that had not been completely removed. So I reached in and pulled up the weeds and began looking again. Finally, yesterday, I saw another shoot push its way through the soil. And sure enough, it is not a weed, it is the flower I planted, what it will look like, I still do not know, I planted a mixture of seeds.
And that is the way our lives unfold. The soil of our lives is tilled, the seed is planted and ground is watered and then what looks like life appears only to be a weed. But then, if we are patient and if we will let God do His work, we will see the fruit of His labor. First a shoot, then a stem, and finally a full grown flower.
But it all goes back to the seed. And the final blossom will depend upon the seed that was planted.
One of the things that excites me about ABMOPAD is the way men bring young men to the retreat each year. These young men develop relationships that have the potential of lasting all their lives. These relationships are good seeds. There is also good seed planted as these young men and boys watch their fathers and mentors study scripture and sing together in worship. Seed is being planted in their lives. And that seed will grow and it will flourish and it will be become a beautiful field as they mature and continue to grow in their faith.
What seed will you plant this year? Is there a young man in your sphere of influence that you could sponsor for the weekend? Is there a young man in whose life you could plant a seed by taking him fishing or going for a bike ride and sharing your life and your faith with him? The soil is fertile. If you do not plant the seed of the gospel, other seed will be planted.
Do you have a green thumb for Jesus? Watch and the seed will grow.
Pastor Doug
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