The Seeds We Plant
The Seeds We Plant
Thus, the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”
John 4:37-38 NIV
[A note before you read: Pastor Dale and Pamela will be away celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary and Pamela’s 70th birthday until September 29. Therefore, there will be no PD’s Mid-Week Encouragement on September 16, 23, or 30.]
I doubt that many of you reading this week’s PD’s Mid-Week Encouragement are farmers. Our world has changed from an agrarian culture to a more urban culture. In fact, I overheard two people recently talking about the assumption that few school children know where their food comes from. The woman said, “Yea, most kids think milk comes from a cardboard box, and their bacon is magically shrink-wrapped in some mysterious factory.” She may be right.
But the people in Jesus’ culture were, indeed, familiar with farming and gardening. He knew that farmers do the hard work and we consumers reap the benefits. But do you realize that even the most citified people among us still plant seeds? The seeds we plant are the words we speak and the actions we do before a watching world. We’re all seed-planters, from the moment we wake up and walk out the doors of our homes until the moment our heads hit our pillowcases each night. The real question is . . . What kind of seeds are we planting? Are you planting seeds of kindness, gentleness, humility and peace? Or are you planting the seeds of division, grumbling, dissatisfaction, and hate?
A pompous city man, turned farmer, was showing a young boy over his acreage. As they drove through field after field, the man bragged about his accomplishments, how he had started from scratch as a young man and worked his way up through the business world. He told how he had earned far more money than had been necessary to buy the land and how he had invested thousands upon thousands of dollars to transform the formerly worthless farm into the agricultural paradise they were surveying. He told of the amazing yield of his crops, and the lushness of the new spring planting.
Finally, he pointed toward the stacked hay, the full granary, and the boxes of produce and declared, “And I grew it all by myself, sonny. Started with nothing and now look at it!”
“From nothing?” echoed the duly impressed boy.
“That’s right,” said the man. “From nothing.”
“Wow,” the young boy said, pausing to reflect for a few seconds. “My dad farms, but he needs seed to grow his crops.”
My friend, what seeds will you plant today? Will you plant seeds of selfless good deeds that point to your Father in heaven, or will you plant seeds that point back to you only? Plant seeds of kindness that point people to Jesus, and you’ll rest better when it’s time for bed tonight.
Thank you for reading Pastor Dale’s Mid-Week Encouragement. It’s not copyrighted so feel free to share it with someone who needs encouragement today. And, if you’re a regular attender of the Mt. Laurel Church of God or regularly watch our Facebook live feed, consider reading Matthew 18:21-35 to get ready to worship with us this coming Sunday, September 13 as Pastor Dale shares some good news from God’s Word for you about forgiveness.
Called to know the Way, go the Way, and show you the Way,
Pastor Dale
Pastor Dale (PD) and Pamela his wife are honored to serve the Mt. Laurel Church of God. If this Mid-Week Encouragement has helped you, perhaps it may encourage someone else. Feel free to share this message with anyone you choose. And if you'd like to receive PD's Mid-Week Encouragement, just send an email to (kingdomguy@gmail.com) and I'll accommodate your request.
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