May 1, 2023

THE SEEDS WE SOW

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

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.”

Mark 4:26-29 NLT

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TODAY’S THOUGHT

Both of my grandparents were farmers. My mom’s parents raised the food they ate, and granddad worked another job to support the family. Each of the children had task on the farm to help grow the food. It was amazing going to grannie’s house because we got to pick peaches off a tree to eat—that was the first time I realized food grew out of the ground. The mystery of a tree growing is intriguing. How does this giant tree grow from a simple seed? One seed can grow a tree that produces hundreds and thousands of peaches over years of time. Jesus lets us know the kingdom of God is like that seed that grows in the hearts of people. Jesus let us know in another parable that the seed is the Word of God. When God’s Word is put out it produces life in the hearts of those who receive it. That life begins to produce fruit. It is the Holy Spirit that grows the fruit. One thing that I felt when reading this passage is that we can’t produce the fruit. Our job is to receive the Word and prepare the soil. We need to be sure we have removed any rocks—issues in our lives that will hinder the Word from growing in our lives. Sometimes we have rocks that were placed in our hearts by past hurts. These hurts are often hidden and covered up because we don’t want to deal with them. I believe the Holy Spirit can reveal the rocks that need to be removed.

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TODAY’S PRAYER

Holy Spirit, please show me anything in my life that is hindering Your work in my life. Help me to produce the fruit that You want in my life.

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