Sow To Grow

Our bodies grow in our sleep. Physical growth, repair, and regeneration happen unconsciously when we rest.

Spiritual growth, too, takes place slowly and silently. The seed, which is the Word of God, becomes invisible when first planted in our hearts. In the parable of the growing seed, Jesus reveals that the man who plants the seed does not worry about its growth. He goes about his life without a care. Soon, the soil produces grain. When it is ripe, the man harvests it.

Jesus uses a simple law of nature to demonstrate Scripture’s power in action. When we consume God’s Word, it springs into action, altering our motives, changing our perceptions, convicting us of sin, breaking strongholds, and transforming our beliefs. This incredible process, though invisible to the naked eye and mysterious to the human mind, is real and at work in us.

The transformation from seed to grain happens gradually, from stalk to head to kernel—from changed motives to new thoughts to altered actions. We do not need to fret or become impatient because we cannot make the seed sprout. It is God who does the work.

Our spiritual growth and fruit are conspicuous, and they make a powerful statement about the life-giving and life-changing quality of the seed.

The Bible is more than a rule book or instruction manual. It is God-breathed, active, and viable. If we believe in the power of the Word, we will be eager and passionate about immersing ourselves in it. We go to God daily, hungry and thirsty for more. We also sow the seed in others’ hearts, and by doing so become agents of God’s transformative power in them.

And we can be certain of this—God’s Word will not return empty, but will accomplish His purpose.

Respond

• How much time in a day do you devote to reading the Bible and meditating on it?
• In what way can you encourage your family and friends to study the Bible?