Devotional: Sharon Norris Elliott

Farming

A seed looks nothing like the plant it will produce. Until a seed is planted, watered, nourished, and exposed to the light, it will just sit on a shelf or in a package and be – well – a seed. It will have a name – an apple seed, a mustard seed, a watermelon seed, etc. – but it will not be living up to its name until acted upon by those outside forces. The essence of its potential will always remain locked inside.

So it is with us human beings in relation to spiritual life. At our natural birth, we are but seeds, full of potential God has placed within us. However, unless we are planted in the right soil, watered, nourished, and given light, all that potential just stays bottled up inside. Some of us were fortunate to have been born into Christian families where all those elements existed from day one. As we grew, we easily allowed our sprouting leaves to turn toward the light of the truth of the Gospel; we soaked in the water of the Word, and were fed by the love that surrounded us. We came to our realization of our need for Christ early on and have followed Him faithfully. We are saved and are using our potential in His service.

Some of us, on the other hand, were born into not-so-ideal conditions. Our plots of land may have been rocky, sandy, or really shallow. Perhaps there was very little light, poison water, and no nutrients in the soil of our circumstances. We didn’t hear of the love of the Savior, or of His grace and mercy in dying for us so we could have eternal life. Still, the potential God intended was there – the potential to sprout into the man or woman of God He wanted us to be.

That inner potential – to be saved and to live lives pleasing to God – is why the Great Commission exists. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJ). Every person is meant to be who God intended him/her to be – saved and serving Him – but it’s impossible to reach that full potential apart from God. Those of us who have realized what Christ has done for us must now reach out and do some “farming.” Making disciples is the planting, baptizing is the watering, teaching is the nourishment, and His presence is the light.

Well, why are you just sitting there? Get out into the field and do some planting!

©2009 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including the copyright line. For all devotions, comments, and questions, log onto Sharon’s blog at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com.

(photo/art source: Wikimedia Commons)