Aug 16 min read

Planting Seeds: An Act of Faith

Promises

Sometimes we hope for a promise, but it is not so. Perhaps it is for children of your own, healing, a healthy marriage, or something only you and God know about.

I learn a lot about faith in the garden. Sometimes I’m afraid. What if I place this seed in the dirt the wrong way? This fear of doing it wrong may keep me from planting. Then I remember the countless seeds I’ve put in the dirt, seen others put in the dirt, and found have been planted by unaware animals. Oh, that’s right, my job is only to plant.

If I do not believe the seed will produce something, I will not place it in the ground. The very act of planting a seed is faith.

Hebrews 11:1-3 NIV

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”

Romans 10:13 tells us that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!

What if I tell them about Jesus the wrong way? What if their heart isn’t ready? I might talk myself out of sharing the Gospel if I think I’m going to mess this up! The Gospel is the Good News that Christ Jesus took the punishment I deserved, dying on the cross, was buried, and three days later God raised Him from the dead. Now we who believe have a right relationship with God and new life in Christ.

What I believe, I will act on.

I plant sunflowers, they start as seeds. Not every seed sprouts, but I am confident some will.

If I really want something to grow in my garden, even when I fail miserably and repeatedly, I will plant again.

Without faith it is impossible to please God we are told in Hebrews 11:6.

If we believe, we will persevere! Hebrews 11:27

When I shared this at church, I had a hollyhock plant with me, with vibrant pink flowers. I also brought a cut flower box for one of the ladies. It had hollyhocks in it. When she opened the box, inside were some seeds. They look very different than the plant I had, yet the truth is, they are also hollyhocks.

There are promises that God has given. What promises that God has given in His Word but we do not see the end result yet?

Already and Not Yet

Abraham and Sarah were not young and they were childless.

In Genesis twelve we read, "The Lord had said to Abram,

'Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

'I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great,

and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you,

and whoever curses you I will curse;and all peoples on earth

will be blessed through you.'" (Genesis 12:1-3)

They waited for God to fulfill His promise. Years later, when they finally held Isaac in their arms, they already saw the promise fulfilled, but it was not yet fully complete. Not yet had Abraham become a great nation. Still today we are waiting for all peoples on earth to be blessed through him.

Hebrews 11 says it this way, after briefly telling the stories of countless heroes of the faith, "These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect." (Hebrews 11:39-40 NIV)

I already have received salvation through Jesus Christ, but I have not yet received that gift in full because I am still on this earth and not yet in His presence.

II Peter 3:9

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

God wants everyone to come to repentance. To repent is to not only be aware of the issue, but turn around and go the opposite direction!

The Word is planted in God’s people. Romans 10:8-10 says,

“But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ”

Romans 10:8 is quoting Deuteronomy 30:14, which says, “No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.”

If I truly believe that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, is my heart burdened for those who do not know Him?

“As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’ 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[f]

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” (Romans 10:11-15 NIV)

We should be burdened with a heart for the lost. Tears are a right response. God has done great things for us! He has brought us salvation by the work of His Son! He offers it to all, He does not want any to perish but longs for all to come to repentance.

Remember Psalm 126:3-6 (NIV):

“The Lord has done great things for us,

and we are filled with joy.

4 Restore our fortunes, Lord,

like streams in the Negev.

5 Those who sow with tears

will reap with songs of joy.

6 Those who go out weeping,

carrying seed to sow,

will return with songs of joy,

carrying sheaves with them.”

Sometimes we plant in tears, but our God is able to bring the harvest. Perhaps the tears help it grow, but our praises must come as well.

Matthew 12:50 – 13:9

“ ‘For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’

“That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.’”

Jesus Himself explains this parable in Matthew 13:18-23.

Seeds Produce Fruit

If we are captured by the love of Christ, if we are a new creation in Him, if His seed has become planted in our hearts, then there will be fruit!

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” (Galatians 5:22-26 NIV)

Planting and Harvesting

What we plant, which is called sowing, we will reap. If you want carrots, you have to plant carrots. This is true in the spiritual world as well.

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:7-10 NIV)

A Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank You for planting Your Word in me. You are the Resurrection and the Life. None of us goes to the Father, except by You. Please cause me to live by Your Spirit and Word. I surrender. Thank You that those who sow in tears will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them. Thank You for these seeds of faith to plant. I love You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.