Planting And Growing

By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

2 Peter 1:4

In the winter a farmer gathers his seed. He plans how many seeds are needed in order to reap a harvest. He prepares the ground to receive the seed. But nothing happens until the farmer takes the step of burying the seed in the soil. Having seed is not enough. There must be a commitment to plant the seed and nurture its growth until it brings forth fruit.

Jesus was the first to compare the Word of God to a seed (Luke 8:11), followed later by the apostle Peter (1 Peter 1:23). Peter also talked about the “great and precious promises” (2 Peter 1:4) contained in the Word that allow us to become partakers of the divine nature. But like the farmer and his seed, we grow spiritually only when we plant the Word of God deeply in the soil of the heart (Matthew 13:1-23). Having the seed of the Word is not enough. We must plant it before we will see ourselves grow.

You probably have more than one seed, more than one copy of the Word of God. But all it takes to see fruit is one that is planted and nurtured.

There is more to Christian growth than knowing what the Bible says; nobody is ever nourished by memorizing menus.

JOHN BLANCHARD