Time

Time

Jesus also said, “Here is another illustration of what the Kingdom of God is like: A farmer planted seeds in a field, and then he went on with his other activities. As the days went by, the seeds sprouted and grew without the farmer’s help, because the earth produces crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens.”

Mark 4:26-28

Some years ago, we purchased two gerbils for our son Jordan, which he cared for and enjoyed for three or four years. When the second gerbil died, we promptly purchased two hamsters. Being an animal lover, my son played with the hamsters many times each day.

I was not as consumed with the little critters as he was, and when I looked at them two weeks after he brought them home, I commented that they had nearly doubled in size; their growth was amazing to me. My son hadn’t noticed the growth, however, because he saw them often each day. Growth is like that; it takes time and isn’t always immediately apparent.

Mark 4:26-28 gives us interesting clues about the growth process. It cannot be forced. But if the elements of God’s grace, God’s truth, and time are present, then God produces the growth. “If we are depressed, it does no good to be ‘undepressed.’ It does help, however, to cultivate the soil of our soul with the nutrients of grace, truth, and time. Only then will we gradually be transformed to greater and greater stages of joy.”^a

We cannot force growth. But when we choose to read God’s Word and obey it, his Spirit teaches us his truth. And when we choose to pursue a relationship with God and his body, the church, we will experience his grace. God’s grace and truth over time produce growth in the believer’s life.

Father,

Thank you that as the seeds of your truth and grace are scattered in our hearts over time, we will grow! Amen.