Tuesday, October 18, 2022

Seeds – The Vault

October 18, 2022/in Bible Study, Week 2

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My family is notorious for killing plants. Even the supposedly “unkillable” succulents have died under our care. I have African violets in my room, and while they aren’t dead, they adamantly refuse to bloom.

Plants require a lot of work. You need to give them the right amount of shade and water, and keep away the weeds and insects. Growing them is full of tiny, repetitive actions, like watering and weeding, which can feel annoying at times.

Jesus once told a parable about a master who invited his servants to take part in his business. He entrusted each of them with some money while he was away. Two servants worked hard, and made double the amount of money they had been left with. When the master returned, they showed him their earnings.

Matthew 25:21

“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’”

Like the master, God invites each of us to take part in his story. But it is up to us whether we step into it. Sometimes, the opportunities God gives us seem small and inconsequential. Sometimes, they are monotonous and bore us to tears. Sometimes, they are inconvenient and exhausting. Sometimes, we don’t even see the outcome of our work.

My grandma has some of the most beautiful flower gardens I have ever seen. However, her gardens didn’t just happen. Throughout the spring, she planted left and right. In the summer, she weeded and watered like crazy. But now, in the fall, she can see and enjoy her harvest, her beautiful array of flowers.

1 Corinthians 3:7-8

7 It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.

Thankfully, God doesn’t expect us to be able to grow the Holy Spirit in others. That is his job. No, he just asks us to join him in planting and watering the seeds. If we can be faithful with that, then what an incredible harvest we will get to enjoy!

Luke 16:10

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.”

Questions:

Have you been overlooking or ignoring the little opportunities God is inviting you into? What is one small impact you can make today?

Next Steps:

Find a way to love someone today. It might not seem like much, but a compliment to a stranger, an encouraging text to a friend, or a card game with your kids can bring joy into their day.

Invite someone you know to Halloweekend or the upcoming At The Movies series in November. This is a perfect way to plant a seed in someone’s heart, whether they come or not!

Prayer:

Father, thank you for inviting me into your story. Help me step into my purpose, even when it seems small and unimportant. Thank you for being in charge of growth. I only need to trust you with my seeds. Amen.