Are you ready to sprout?

 
                                                  weightplan.com

Yesterday we went out to the cemetery to pull crabgrass and put new seed on my mom’s grave.  She died last September and we continue to address the mess.

Because her grave and my dad’s are both on a hill, we are constantly in a battle to prevent water trenching its way across the soil when we get rain,  and getting a decent grass covering.

Fingers crossed our latest attempt will be successful; the cemetery’s attempt at seeding appears to have been unsuccessful.

As we know, in order for any seed to grow, it takes a lot of care during the initial days of planting.  Sunshine and water are essential because the seed must break open in order to grow.  It must die in order to produce.

Jesus understood this well.  In fact, we find him talking about it in the Gospel of John (Chapter 12, verse 24).  Why?  Because he knew that in order to give us new life, he would need to go through the whole dying process himself, which he did, on the cross.

In the gospel, Jesus said:

“I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.”

The bigger picture in this dying/rising process is the idea of submission.  Jesus submitted to the Father’s will because it was necessary for us to have eternal life.  We, too, go through a dying process to bring about good.

Think about this.  When you look at the plans you have made for today, will you be prepared to submit to God’s will when those plans change?  Are you willing to die to yourself and your plans so as to be an instrument—that seed—that God will use to produce in you something you did not even anticipate?

Or, will you stand still and remain just a grain of wheat that produces nothing?

Jesus makes it clear in the verses that follow that he came for a purpose and that purpose was us, not him.

You have the potential to produce great fruit if you allow yourself to be watered by God’s Word and fully commit your life to him.  You, now, are the seed that can burst through the soil and bring beauty and life to the world.

Go out there and follow Jesus, serving him as you were meant to do.  Who knows what God might have planned for your little seed when it sprouts?

Janet Cassidy
janetcassidy.blogspot.com
janetcassidy.blubrry.net (podcasts)