I have mentioned before that since I live in an apartment, I do my best to grow a few vegetables in containers during the summer. I recently discovered a new plant growing beside one of my tomato plants. It was a tiny oak tree growing from an acorn likely buried by one of the squirrels that frequented a nearby oak tree. Looking at the thin, tiny tree I had pulled from the container, I couldn’t help but marvel over how something as big as an oak tree could start from something so small.
A few weeks later, I was reminded of the little tree that was sprouting from that small acorn when they cut down the tree outside our apartment. I had hoped they would only need to trim the dead limbs, but unfortunately, the whole tree had to come down. As this tree was being cut down, large pieces of it would hit the ground causing a loud thud that we could feel inside our apartment. Oak trees may start from a little acorn, but they certainly don’t stay small.
This has reminded me how important seeds are. Seeds may start out small, but they hold tremendous potential inside them. You never know how big and how far a seed may grow. This has reminded me of how important it is to plant seeds. As followers of Christ, it is important that we are intentionally planting seeds whenever we get the chance. We need to take every opportunity to plant seeds aka point people to Jesus.
We need to be intentional about pointing people to Jesus, dear heart. They need to know about the hope we possess. Don’t be disheartened if you do not immediately see a result. Keep planting seeds and trust God to bring them to fruition. “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” 1 Cor. 6:3. Paul said this while explaining that we are all workers in God’s kingdom. It’s our job to keep planting seeds and trust God to bring the fruit.
Keep planting the seeds, my friend. Keep telling people about Jesus. Keep praying for those lost loved ones. Plant seeds by sharing His Word when you get the opportunity. You never know what God may do with that seed. You do not know what “oaks of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:3) the Lord may raise up from the seeds of the Gospel that you have planted, beloved. Keep sharing the Good News. Keep sharing the hope you have found in Him.
One other thing to remember. Your words are always planting seeds. What kind of seeds are they planting? Proverbs 18:21 tells us that “life and death are in the power of the tongue”. I ask again, what kind of seeds are your words planting in the hearts of those who hear them. I hope that you will choose to plant seeds that “give grace to those who hear” them (Ephesians 4:29). I urge you to carefully consider your words and choose to speak only words that offer grace, my friend.
May we all choose to focus on planting seeds that further the Kingdom of God and offer grace to those who hear them!
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… Matthew 28:19a
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8
Katrina Douglas
