I love planting season! The joy of putting seed in the ground, watching it grow and gathering a harvest – it’s wondrous! In a spiritual context, it’s always planting season (2 Timothy 4:2); however, seeds don’t plant themselves! Our duty is clear: plant and water, and then, God will give the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6). Read the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23). Notice: (1) Wayside Soil, which equals the Hard Heart! (2) Stony Soil, equivalent to the Shallow Heart! (3) Thorny Soil, the Crowded Heart! (4) Good Soil, which represents the Good Heart! The Seed is the Word of God (Luke 8:11).
We must sow the seeds of faith (Matthew 17:20). It is necessary to walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7), to live by faith (Galatians 2:20), to sow the seeds of hope (1 Peter 3:15) and to work by faith (James 2:18).
We must sow the seeds of hope (1 Peter 3:15). Hope is defined as confident expectation, firm assurance! Hope stabilizes the Christian (Hebrews 6:19), and hope fortifies endurance (1 Thessalonians 1:3).
We must sow the seeds of love (John 13:34-35). Love is a command (v. 34a)! Furthermore, love is a result of following Jesus’ example (v. 34b)! Love is a demonstration of discipleship (v. 35)!
Each of us needs to ask himself or herself, “Am I a spiritual seed sower? What kind of seed am I sowing? Am I satisfied with the harvest? If not, what should I do?” The more seed we sow, the greater the harvest will be! The harvest of tomorrow depends on the seed we sow today!
