Seeds: Planting for the future

What does it mean to sow seeds of faith? Photo-wordpress.com

Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe. – Saint Augustine

Consider the large hardwood trees that you have seen. Many may have been a part of the virgin wilderness become our nation became settled and grew to the 300 million plus that we are today. Many were also planted, perhaps one hundred years ago. Someone thought to plant a seed—perhaps an acorn—that would produce magnificent beauty and shade after the planted had died. It is said that people plant olive groves for their grandchildren. Many things that we do in this lifetime live—and only produce fruit—beyond our earthly lifespan.

While we are temporal beings; we can leave a legacy in many ways. What ways do we leave a legacy now? Let’s take our first make it count moment.

What item represents an enduring legacy to you? A family home? Grandmother’s ring? Your family reputation? Your favorite mountain? The ocean? Something else?

If we are going to plant seed that outlast us, they need to be seeds of faith. Everything we do has the potential to be a seed. We are very much planting all the time, but is it what we plant what we want to plant.

I worked as an addictions treatment counselor in a private prison for about two years. I can tell you with certainty that every inmate in that prison learned something. How many learned the right things, productive things, things beneficial to society as well as their personal well being is debatable, but all learned something. Some learned how to get extra food, get drugs smuggled in, or just keep from being victimized by inmate justice. Others learned skills such as reading, writing, carpentry, horticulture, and others. All learned something.

Likewise, all of us plant seeds. Some will produce rich fruit for the Body of Christ, for the Kingdom of Heaven, for generations to come. Some are like planting radish seeds. You plant them, and a couple weeks later you eat them. They’re here. They’re gone. That’s it.

Here is our next make it count moment.

What did you do this past week that will last for the rest of the year?

What did you do that will last for a decade?

What did you do that will last for eternity?

How much time did you spend reading God’s Word compared to reading the newspaper or watching television?

Planting seeds in fertile ground requires faith and an understanding that the return for our investment is not comfort, but a journey to character—the character that God’s wants to grow in us. Sometimes we fall short on our faith and only plant temporary things, but God calls us to plant eternal things. He call us to trust him.

Here are today’s make it last for life challenges.

1. How much time do you spend reading, studying, and enjoying God’s Word?

2. How much time would you like to spend?

3. Plant this seed this week: Carve out some time in your schedule (I know it’s not there at first glance, but you will find it) and spend it alone with your Bible, knowing that this seed will produce fruit even after your life on this earth is over.

4. Make a list of your nonessential commitments, responsibilities, and obligations that may be worthwhile but will not last for eternity. Think of ways to transition out of these commitments into ones that produce an eternal return. If you can’t do this all of the time, find a way to do it for a season.

5. Let’s look at values. Write down those values that you hope to leave behind and who you hope will inherit them.

Consider today’s thoughts and challenges in the context of the Parable of the Sower. Where are we planting our seed? Where do we expect it to grow?

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop — a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear."

"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

Matthew 12:50-13:9; and 13:18-23 NIV

Go to day 24 provocations