The miracle of growth
by Pastor Peter Bean
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‘I planted the seed, and Apollos watered it. But God is the one who made it grow’ (1 Corinthians 3:6).
I am fortunate enough to spend quite a bit of time in my garden. With 80+ fruit and nut trees and berry bushes, I need to. A reasonably-sized vegetable garden also requires maintenance. So, safe to say, I know a fair bit about planting and watering. Some might say I have a green thumb, but in reality, anyone can plant – there’s plenty of expert tips and videos to help – and anyone can water, with the right amount of cajoling.
But what never ceases to amaze me is the miracle of growth. How does a tiny carrot seed grow into a carrot? What distinguishes it from a tomato or radish seed? I know the gardening answer (and possibly even the scientific answer), but how do they grow into the adult plants? The tulips and irises that are currently flowering are beautiful, but they’ve developed from what looks like a disfigured bulb! And what differentiates them from the artichoke?
I don’t know. But I do know that if I plant them at the right time and water them a reasonable amount, they grow and bring pleasure. I also know the scientific reasons they grow – sunshine, photosynthesis, and so on. But to me, it is a miracle. And only God can provide that. It is God who provides the sunshine, the mechanism in the leaves to bring growth.
I am at the time in life where I can look back at some of the seeds I’ve sown in people’s lives and where different folk have watered them as times goes by. I can think of other people where I have watered seeds sown earlier by someone else. In all of these cases, I marvel at the growth, and I know quite clearly that it has been our faithful God who has provided the growth. Can we continue to plant and water, trusting God to provide the growth?
Thank you, God of growth, for all you do to bring forth flourishing people from the seeds we faithfully sow and the water we hopefully provide. Amen.
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