Scatter Seeds

“It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God’s workers. . . ” (1 Corinthians 3:5-9, NLT).

Summer is officially here! Praise the Lord for longer days, outdoor adventures, ice cream treats, and farmers’ markets. Can I get an “amen”?! I don’t know about you, but I’m also looking forward to growing some cherry tomatoes in the summer sunshine. Last year, I grew a whopping total of three tomatoes from May to August. Yes, that’s right, just three. But, I must say, they were the best!

There’s nothing like a homegrown veggie, fruit, or flower. The joy we feel when picking that kind of produce is unmatched, even if all we gather are just three quarter-sized tomatoes.

Do you enjoy gardening? Or do you know someone who has an excellent green thumb?

Every year, my best friend grows an amazing garden with all kinds of tomatoes, squash, potatoes, green beans, sweet corn, watermelon, strawberries, sunflowers, and whatever else you can think of. You name it, and she can grow it. Talk about a green thumb!

I have no idea how she can get her garden to produce such a bountiful harvest each season without fail, but I sure am thankful for how she shares her incredible produce with me. Come to think of it, maybe my friend’s secret weapon is her husband, who makes sure to faithfully water the seeds she scattered earlier in the season. Regardless, we know that only God, the Master Gardener, can produce the growth.

It brings God great joy to grow seeds of faith planted in the hearts of people around the world. And God invites you and me to be part of His awesome work, too. What do I mean by that?

As followers of Jesus, we are entrusted with the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) to go and make disciples. The expectation for every believer is that we share the gospel of Jesus Christ—planting seeds of faith—everywhere we go.

The Apostle Paul eagerly lived this out, and it was never an inconvenience to him. Everywhere he went, Paul scattered seeds of Truth, sharing the gospel with everyone he came into contact with on his missionary journeys. And in 1 Corinthians 3:5-9, Paul urges believers to participate as gospel-messengers of hope.

Paul seems like a pretty ‘radical’ guy, doesn’t he? But, aren’t you and I called to be the same way?

Think about the last time you shared the good news of Jesus with a stranger at the grocery store, with a close friend, or with a family member in your own household. Maybe it’s been a long time, or maybe you have never shared the gospel before. It can be nerve-wracking to share our faith. What if others dislike us, reject us, or mistreat us? How do we get the conversation started? With God’s help, you can choose faith over fear. Empowered by His Spirit, you can respond in obedience to tell others who Jesus is and what He has done on the cross and in the grave. This is the best news ever! Why would we ever keep this Truth to ourselves?

Friend, I can’t help but wonder if you’ve been like Paul, faithfully scattering seeds for the gospel for months, years, or decades. Maybe you’re feeling frustrated with the lack of fruit it seems to be producing. I want to encourage you today, too.

Just like cherry tomato seeds, seeds of faith need nourishment, Son-light, and time. We cannot see the heart-work that God is doing in the soil of someone’s heart. It’s our job to plant and water seeds by speaking Truth, loving like Christ, and sharing the gospel, but it’s God’s job to convict others of their need for Him and to increase their faith to trust in Him (Jn. 16:8). Only God can save.

So friend, don’t stop speaking Truth and loving well as God supplies the words, strength, and perseverance to do so. You never know when someone’s heart will
blossom with faith. It may not be in your lifetime, but praise the Lord that you get to be part of the story by watering the seed of faith that may have been planted long ago!

As you scatter seeds of faith, remember to leave the results up to God, the Master Gardener. He is at work beneath the dirt. Keep intentionally showing up for the unsaved stranger, friend, or relative, or GEMS Girl to whom your words do not seem to be having an impact. Pray for God to prepare the soil of others’ hearts to receive the Truth of the gospel as you share.

As Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 9:35-38, “‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’” It’s true, hearts are ready to hear about Jesus in your school, neighborhood, workplace, home, nation, etc. Will you be faithful in scattering seeds of faith, starting today? Yes, today!

I urge you to practice sharing the gospel with a friend so you can be prepared to share the hope you have with others (1 Pet. 3:15). Nothing brings greater joy than witnessing someone come to faith in Jesus Christ and walking alongside him or her in discipleship.

So, scatter broadly. Scatter faithfully. Trust the Master Gardener with the results.

Friend, will you join me in prayer today?

Dear God,
You are the Master Gardener. Thank You for the seeds of faith You have produced in us and for the continued transforming work You are doing in us by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Please give us courage to scatter seeds of faith by sharing the gospel with those we come into contact with. Help us to be obedient to this call (Matt. 28:19-20), and please prepare the hearts of others to receive Your Truth. Nothing brings You greater joy than when hearts surrender to Jesus as Lord and Savior. This brings us great joy, too.
In Jesus’ name, amen.