This morning as I sat awake alone in this little apartment in Michigan, USA, I began to think and pray what to write for this week’s article. After many weeks of dry weather in this area, the last few days have been quite wet and dreary. Perhaps because of this, but most importantly by God, my thoughts seemed to be directed toward the vegetable garden which is outside our place here.
Before this garden, or any other garden was planted, the soil had to be prepared. The soil must be turned, broken up, made soft. The soil must be made ready before the seed is planted. Is this not the same way it is spiritually?
Luke 8:15 (KJV)
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Only when the heart is ready to receive can the preached Word do good and take firm root. Pray that this work of turning over, changing, making ready, and softening of men’s hearts would be done by God in your communities so that when the Word of God is spoken, it will fall upon good ground.
Once the soil is made ready in a natural vegetable garden here on earth, then the seed can be planted. This is called sowing.
2 Cor. 9:6 (KJV)
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Matthew 13:37 (KJV)
He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
Mark 4:14 (KJV)
The sower soweth the word.
Share the Word with the people. Sow the seed! Do not decide that today I will not sow, or I will only sow a little. No, sow liberally. Sow the Word. Preach it dear Pastor, preach it dear Christians everywhere. Share it with your friends young and old! Share it with anyone that will listen. Remember as in our scripture verses above, if the seed is sown only sparingly, it shall reap also sparingly! In this garden outside our place here, the vegetables are coming up in fine rows. The whole of the garden plot is used, if not I am sure the gardener would not have turned the soil as large and then only planted a few seeds. No, rather many seeds were used!
Another thought about sowing seeds. If you plant a carrot seed, you will get a carrot. Whatever seed is planted, that is the type of vegetable that will be harvested if the Lord allows it. Never will something else take shape. Galatians 6:7 (KJV)
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
God’s plan and Word is so perfect. We must be aware that if we sow evil or destructive talk, if we sow discontent or mistrust, then we will also reap the same. But Praise be to God that it is also true that if God’s Holy Word is sown, then the great and everlasting benefits will be harvested according to the Grace and Mercy of our Lord!
Now we must remember that scripture says in 1 Cor. 3:7-8 (KJV)
So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
Man must do his part in both the natural vegetable garden, and in the work of the Lord. However, God gives the increase! Nothing will become of any effort of man without God giving the blessing and the increase. We do not have control of this! God does, and God is good! 1 Cor. 3:6 (KJV)
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
Also in a vegetable garden, weeds pop up! These must be rooted up so they do not choke out the sun and moisture from the real plants.
Matthew 15:13 (KJV)
But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
So complete is the Word of God that He has put all these pictures are in our Bibles for us to be able to understand! Do not allow roots of bitterness to spring up in your life. These must be plucked out for a healthy home or church life to grow.
There is so much more to speak about in this garden example but I am afraid this is article is getting too long. If the Lord so wills, next week I will continue with Part 2 of this Garden Story. We will cover the nurturing (watering and feeding), and the Harvest!
I leave you this final word of encouragement this week about the word planted!
Romans 6:5 (KJV)
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." Isaiah 55:1
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