Mark 4:26-29
He said, “The kingdom of God is like this: A man scatters seed on the ground, and while he sleeps and rises, night and day, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. The ground produces fruit on its own: first, the blade, then the head, then the full grain in the head. When the crop is ready, he swings the sickle without delay, because the harvest has come.”
Dear Heavenly Father,
The germination of a seed still seems to be a mystery; when the seed is at just the right temperature, along with darkness, water, and soil, it begins to germinate. Each type of plant its seed is specific to that plant’s needs; once germination begins, they require water and light to grow.
It is remarkable how our faith starts similarly. We all begin in the darkness of our sins; each person’s faith is different. Some were planted at young ages; they are nurtured, watered, and have known you most of their lives. Their parents or guardians brought them to church and taught them your word. Others were kept longer in the darkness of their sins. They had to face the effects of those sins in their life, sometimes enduring extremely dark places, and others required fire for the seed of your word to germinate.
Whether it was a short time, a long time, or under harsh conditions, your Son is the living water and the light of the world that causes faith to grow. We are watered, connected to him through the water of our baptisms; there, life begins. Jesus came as the light of the world to remove sin’s darkness; he suffered the cross bringing eternal life. So as our faith sprouts, we have both water and light all through the forgiveness he won for us on the cross.
As seeds need water and light, so does our faith; please sustain us in your word and sacraments. Send your Holy Spirit to sustain us in this life so that we can spread seeds of your love, mercy, and forgiveness to those who still lay dormant in sin’s darkness. We pray for opportunities to plant faith’s seeds in those around us who do not know you. Amen
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
Like a seed, we grow with the living water and the light of the world; however, those who remain dormant reject God’s love and mercy. To all—receive God’s goodness for you; he desires you to germinate, grow, and be harvested in heaven.