Do you enjoy gardening? Although I haven’t planted anything this year, I’m starting to think about what I’ll put in the containers on my deck. The options are endless – any number of flowers, herbs, or vegetables.
Once the planting is done, some water and sunshine will ensure healthy plants that continue to flower and produce food for my table. I have the easy job: putting the plants in the soil and watering them if there’s no rain in the forecast. The plant does the real work of producing either flowers or something I can eat or use in my meal preparation.
Once I’ve planted something, I expect results. But there’s another job I’ve been given that only requires me to plant the seed. I’m not responsible for the outcome. Jesus talked about it in the form of a parable.
Share the Gospel:
Plant the seed
A person went out to plant some seeds. The seeds fell on different kinds of soil: the side of the road, stony ground, thorny ground, and good ground. The seeds that fell on the first three types of soil didn’t grow. Take a look at what happened to the seeds that fell on good ground:
But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Matthew 13:8
Guess who the person sowing the seeds represents? If you are a believer, it’s you! Jesus has given you a job to do:
Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15
Plant it everywhere
Did you notice WHERE we’re to sow the good news of the gospel? Everywhere. The sower’s responsibility was to spread the seed. And it’s our responsibility to spread the gospel to those along our path.
Leave the results to Him
It can get discouraging when people aren’t interested in meeting the Savior, or ridicule us for our beliefs. The important thing to remember is that our job is to sow the seed. Let the Holy Spirit do the rest. It’s His job to convict people of their sin and show them their need for a Savior (John 16:8). And just like the seeds on the good ground, there will be those who come to know Jesus and use their talents and abilities for Him.
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
Are you faithfully sowing the gospel of Jesus Christ? Who will you share His truth with today?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for the awesome task You’ve given me to share the gospel with others. Forgive me for not always being faithful to do this. Help me remember I only need to sow the seed – Your Holy Spirit is responsible for the results. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
