Verse of the Day - Mark 4:26-29

[Jesus] also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."
~ Mark 4:26-29 (NIV)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you are a believer in Jesus, you are a seed-sower. You might not be deliberate in that task, but the life you live sows seeds -- hopefully, godly seeds planted in the hearts and minds of those who don't know God. When you plant seeds of love and concern for others, seeds of truth about God and man, seeds of peace in the midst of storms, you are infiltrating the soul soil of people who need to see God in all His fullness.

And the mystery is that you don't know how these seeds grow in each individual. You can't predict how long the seeds will take to mature into a harvest. You can worry and fret over a seed planted, but do you have anything to do with the growth? No, that's the Holy Spirit's job. Actually, it's a relief that we can sleep or get up, as these verses say! I think alot of believers stress over the seeds sown, as if they're responsible for making the harvest. But you can no more make a soul harvest any more than you can force a seed to sprout by staring at a flower bed in Springtime 24/7. You'll get tired and fall asleep waiting for something to happen. The good news is that something is happening, even though you can't see what's going on nor really understand the process by which it takes place. Just another of God's mysteries...

Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven!
~ Jesus, in Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

[Jesus] commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. ~ Acts 10:42 (NIV)

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
~ Jesus, in John 15:12 (NIV)

Trust me -- God is at work when you sow seeds. So, now that the pressure is off of you to make a harvest happen, you are free to sow seeds in abundance!



Love,
Joelene