Gardeners for God
Jesus went on to say, ‘The Kingdom of God is like this. A man scatters seed in his paddock. He sleeps at night, is up and about during the day, and all the while the seeds are sprouting and growing. Yet he does not know how it happens. The soil itself makes the plants grow and bear fruit; first the tender stalk appears, then the head, and finally the head full of grain. When the grain is ripe, the man starts cutting it with his sickle, because harvest time has come.’ (verses 26-29)
Read Mark 4: 26-34
As a keen gardener I can really relate to this parable. I can prepare the soil and plant the seeds. I can water them and fertilise them, but I cannot make them grow. I can give the seeds all the care they need and make sure the conditions for growing are right, but I cannot actually make my seeds germinate.
As spiritual gardeners we can spread the ‘seed’ of God’s word. We can take as much care as possible in preparing for the sowing of the ‘seed’, but we cannot make the ‘seed’ germinate, take root and begin to grow. That is something we must prayerfully leave to the Holy Spirit to attend to.
We are gardeners for God wherever we are in life. We can sow the seeds and care for the plants as they grow, but we cannot take credit for the actual life of the plant. The credit for that belongs to God.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will make many plants spring up and grow from the seed that you sow in God’s name.
Help me to be a conscientious gardener for you, dear Lord. Please send your Holy Spirit to help the seed planted in your name to grow and flourish. Amen.
by Grace Bock, in ‘God’s Peace for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2005)
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