Written by Ann Thiede, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Searcy, Arkansas
Jesus the Vine (Jn 15) desires that we who are attached to Him bear fruit that will last, beginning with planting seeds of God’s Word. In His day, unlikely people hungered for the righteousness He freely offered: sinners, prostitutes, tax collectors. Only God knows if a heart is hard or fertile to receive His Word.
The disciples of Jesus set the example for us, learning to plant seeds of the Word and continuing to do so after Jesus ascended into Heaven. Listen to this account in the book of Acts:
At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles…Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. (Ac 8:1b,4 NKJV)
Disciples scattered seeds everywhere! What a beautiful picture! And of all things, persecution motivated them. Saul, the driven persecutor of Christians, became Paul the master sower, overwhelmed by the truth of Jesus’s grace and mercy. He explains one technique to the church in Corinth: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase” (1Co 3:6).
Today, many souls are weary, parched, and starving, in great need of spiritual nourishment, just as in the time of Christ. Consider these words:
But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Mt 9:36-38)
Have you ever been moved like Jesus? You see a crowd of people somewhere, maybe an airport or some type of gathering, and realize that many of them, hurrying on their way with who-knows-what going on in their lives, need Jesus. You might feel overwhelmed and think, “What can I do? I’m just one person!” Perhaps Jesus would say, “Just share the Good News -- one soul at a time. Plant or water what others may have planted, and I will give the increase into My Kingdom.”
But you might think, “I don’t know the Bible well enough,” or ”What would I say?“, “That’s not my gift,” or ”I’m afraid of rejection.”
Here are a few things that can help in planting and watering God’s beautiful seeds:
- Above all else, draw close to Jesus daily in His Word and prayer, and let His Spirit fill you with love, mercy, and grace. Here’s an encouraging scripture: “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus” (Ac 4:13).
- Since you know how much you’ve been given, plant seeds of Christ’s love to soften hearts (2Co 5:14 NIV). The Christian singer, Olivia Lane, shared on the Sirius XM station The Message that it wasn’t going to church or reading the Bible that brought her to Christ. It was two believers loving on her and sharing the healing Christ wanted to give that produced lasting fruit.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to let love overcome fear and begin a conversation. Here are some suggestions: Start simple. “Are you a person of faith?” (without assuming anything). Let them share. Listen. Ask questions. Direct them to Jesus and what He’s done in your life. Share His love for them and the price He paid. “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2Co 5:21). Ask if they’d like to read one of the Gospels, like Luke or John, with you, whether familiar or unfamiliar with the Bible.
- Keep praying for the person in whom you plant or water that God’s Spirit would powerfully work, whether you see them again or not.
Love. Share Jesus. Keep planting and watering. Pray! May you witness God giving the increase here on earth! We may not see some of the results in this life, but how wonderful to meet souls in Heaven in whom we planted Jesus’s Word!
Will you share with another Christian the suggestions above and encourage one another? God will work in you!
