Subscribe via RSS Feed

Planting Seeds

When I was a child in Adams County in central Pennsylvania, our family planted large gardens with corn, beans, watermelons, potatoes, and all sorts of plants. I would walk outside each morning to see how much the seeds had grown. This memory reminded me of Jesus’ parable of the mustard seed in which He says of the Kingdom of God: 

“It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade” (Mark 4:30-32).

Life is about where you’re going, not only where you’ve been.

Those tiny seeds maturated, and we were able to enjoy the vegetables for meals. We had to battle hot, rainy, and cools days to assist the growth of the vegetables. Rabbits would come and eat the plants. We created fences to keep the critters from the garden. Sometimes it was discouraging after all the work. But we kept at the garden.

I thought about that idea with our Christian lives. No matter how hard our past has been, no matter who has betrayed you, gossiped about you, lied or stolen from you, the seeds of God’s word you plant will bear fruit. We cannot allow the past to haunt or shape our future. Yes, our ultimate destination is Heaven, but we have a life to live today and enjoy with people and the Lord.

Image: Francesco Gallarotti

Friends, when you continue to sow the seed of God’s word, your spiritual growth is unlimited! Life is about where you’re going, not only where you’ve been. Are you planting God’s seed in the fertile ground of your life? You have the privilege to commit yourself to the Lord’s word, devote yourself, water, and care for it. God’s guarantees His seeds will produce God’s kingdom. I want to encourage you now to plant the seeds of God in the lives of the people you meet every day. God promises to grow the seed. Our part is to participate and plant the seed. We have the easy part; God does the miraculous part!

In this summer of the Holy Spirit, may God awaken your heart as you read this message. Believe and trust in His growth for your life!

Pin It

Tags: , ,

Category: Living the Faith, Summer 2023

About the Author: Cletus L. Hull, III, M.Div. (Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry), D.Min. (Fuller Theological Seminary), Ph.D. (Regent University), has served as a pastor with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for 36 years and psychiatric chaplain for 34 years. He is an Assistant Adjunct Professor of Biblical Studies in the Oral Roberts University College of Theology and Ministry. He has researched the growing Disciples of Christ churches in Puerto Rico and has an interest in the significance of the Stone-Campbell churches in American Christianity. His article, "My Church is a Mental Hospital" appeared in the Summer 2015 issue of Healing Line. He is the author of The Wisdom of the Cross and the Power of the Spirit in the Corinthian Church: Grounding Pneumatic Experiences and Renewal Studies in the Cross of Christ (Pickwick, 2018) and The Call: My Mission and Our Ministry at Trinity United Christian Church, Lower Burrell, PA (Word Association, 2019). Twitter: @cletus_hull, Facebook, www.CletusHull.com

  • Connect with PneumaReview.com

    Subscribe via Twitter Followers   Subscribe via Facebook Fans
  • Recent Comments

  • Featured Authors

    Amos Yong is Professor of Theology & Mission and director of the Center for Missiological Research at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena. His graduate education includes degree...

    Jelle Creemers: Theological Dialogue with Classical Pentecostals

    Antipas L. Harris, D.Min. (Boston University), S.T.M. (Yale University Divinity School), M.Div. (Emory University), is the president-dean of Jakes Divinity School and associate pasto...

    Invitation: Stories about transformation

    Craig S. Keener, Ph.D. (Duke University), is F. M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. He is author of many books<...

    Studies in Acts

    Daniel A. Brown, PhD, planted The Coastlands, a church near Santa Cruz, California, serving as Senior Pastor for 22 years. Daniel has authored four books and numerous articles, but h...

    Will I Still Be Me After Death?