The Seed Sprouts And Grows

He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

Mark 4:26-29

The kingdom of God can be compared to a farmer scattering seed on the ground. The one who scattered the seed may have done what he could to care for the soil. But Jesus said the seed sprouted-whether or not that man slept in, woke up, or even understood the growth process. The land owner benefited from the harvest, though its development didn’t depend on what he did or his understanding of the workings beneath the surface of the soil.

The maturing of the seeds is Jesus’s parable, occurring in God’s time and because of God’s growing power. Whether we’re considering personal spiritual growth or God’s plan to expand the church until Jesus returns, the Lord’s mysterious ways aren’t dependent on our abilities or understanding of His works. Still, God invites us to know, served, and praise the Grower, reaping the benefits of the spiritual maturity He cultivates in and through us.

God deserves the glory for the growth of His people and His kingdom.

Our Daily Bread – March 27, 2018