The Word Is a Seed

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Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God . . . 1 Peter 1:23

In this verse, Peter tells us that it is through the imperishable seed of the Word of God that we have been born again. What does he mean by this? In God’s Word, we find the good news of what God has done in Jesus Christ to save us. And it is through the good news found in God’s Word that one is born again. But God doesn’t just uncover his plan of salvation through his Word. He reveals his very self to us. That’s why Peter calls it the living and abiding Word.

Peter compares the Word of God to an imperishable seed. What’s interesting about a seed is that it’s dry and dull with little evidence of life before you plant it. But once it’s in the proper condition, planted in damp and nutrient-rich soil, life bursts forth from it as we eagerly wait above the surface for those signs of life to appear. Just like a seed needs to be planted in the proper condition for life to spring forth, God’s Word is waiting to be planted in the good soil of a believing heart. And then, by the Holy Spirit, his Word will germinate, take root, and grow, bringing life and beauty to whatever it touches.

When we open up the living and abiding Word of God, we encounter the God of the universe, the one who created all things and is making all things new. And when we meet him, our lives can’t help but be transformed. There may be areas of your life that have felt dry. Maybe your love for the lost has waned, or your passion for God’s mission has been quenched. God’s living and abiding Word will never lose its power to touch every dull, dry, and dead area of your life, causing it to burst forth with new life that is lasting and eternal. And as his Word touches and transforms our lives, we can’t help but sow this imperishable seed, sharing the good news of what Jesus has done to save us, wherever we go.

Think about when you first heard the gospel. Did someone share it with you? Reflect on that moment, thanking God for his salvation.

Since the Word is living and abiding, what are some areas of your life it can renew this week?

Pray

God, I believe that your Word is an imperishable seed that can renew every area of my life. I can bring my brokenness, confusion, and insecurities before you, knowing that you make me whole, confident, and secure through the seed of your Word. You have brought me from death to life and are faithful to finish the good work you began in me. Lord, I pray that you will continue to change my life to reflect your love to others around me. Because of your Word that you’ve planted in me, I can be bold to share your gospel wherever I go. Amen.

God’s Word makes all things new.