Life Springs Forth
I understand that the first day of spring this year was March 19 and yes, we have had some nice days, but certainly there has been ever-changing weather. With the onset of spring, many of us start thinking about our yards and planting flowers, and farmers begin sowing the seeds of the various crops for harvest. In Luke 8:4-15 Jesus tells a parable of someone sowing seeds and what can happen to the seeds after they have been scattered. Certainly, we don’t need to wait till spring to spread seeds of God’s love and goodness. I think that springtime is a good reminder of a time when life springs forth from the earth, and we can associate that with a time of sowing seeds. Seeding of God’s Word and love can be done anytime when the opportunities come. The temperature of the situation and the season of time might be God telling us to place that seed.
When we place our trust and profess our faith in Jesus Christ, a spiritual seed has been sown in us. God’s desire is to have that seed of faith grow within us to produce righteous character. In the parable of the sower in Luke 8, the word seed means the Word of God, soil means the people receiving the Word, and how they “grow” is represented in their response to the Word and their faith. I am so encouraged and thankful for teachers/parents who plant those seeds of faith in your children. I see that seed grow as I interact with them at church in Awana. Because of this, some youth continue Bible studies together on their own after their time in our youth group. Sometimes those seeds may lay dormant, but be encouraged by Mark 4:26-27, “And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how.” As a farmer, when I plant a corn seed, it doesn’t just produce one more corn seed. It produces over 700 more seeds, and the more seeds I plant, the larger the harvest.
Last, we as Elders have been encouraged by your faithful giving and your managing of the resources God has provided for us. 2 Corinthian 9:6-8 says, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
Dan Heitke serve as the Elder Chairman of Village Church