Farming for Jesus - Part 3 of 4

Farming for Jesus (4 part series)

This will be a four part devotional series. 

The four parts are;

Cultivating

Sowing

Growing

Harvesting

Farming for Jesus - Part 3 of 4

Growing

“Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13:31-32‬

Growing is the process of maintaining the ground, the seed and the environment so that everything is just right for the seed to grow.  You’ll weed, fertilize, water and prune to encourage, promote and enhance the chances of success. 

Here the farmer does a lot of work and waits patiently for the seed to produce a plant and for the plant to produce the crop. Patience and hard work are key during this process. 

Have you ever plant a tree from a seed and watch it grow over the years? 

My grandparents planted an oak tree from an acorn when my brother and I were about two years old. He started growing this tree in an old metal coffee can. He placed the can, the dirt and the sprouted tree in the ground. 

My grandfather carefully mowed around the small sapling for years until it grew to about eight feel tall. It had nearly been run over with the mower, backed over by the car, pulled on and bent by my brother and I and used to check how sharp a machete was. 

My grandfather took great care and pride in the growth of this tree. He knew if this tree grew it would provide shade for his driveway and a place for us to play on. 

This tree is still standing today. Fifty years later this tree is humongous. My grandparents have died, the house has been sold but the tree continues to flourish. That tree has outlived many stressful and near death experiences because of the attention that was paid to it during its growth. 

It never would have grown if it wasn’t properly cared for or maintained. The branches had to be pruned, the ground watered and fertilized, weeds pulled and care taken not to destroy it.

Growing is maintaining the Word that is planted and grown within us. It is taking what is in the Bible, understanding it and applying it our life. Care must be taken to  never distort the word of God. To never bend it or break it. We should also encourage its growth

We have to use the word of God to encourage our growth, influence and encourage others and to live the principles of Jesus Christ. We do this by discipleship, Bible studies and fellowship with like-minded believers

Sin is like weeds in your garden or around your tree. They are always going to pop up. We have to constantly maintain the word of God in our life to take the sin out as it comes in and to bring it before God.

Growing Jesus Christ in your life is going to be filled with going to church, reading your Bible, praying to Him and surrounding yourself with other Christians of the same belief. These things will help you maintain your growth and provide for a strong relationship. 

You’ll have to prune away branches over time to promote better growth. Things that don’t encourage growth will only discourage the plant. 

The plant will have to be watched to make sure that no weeds, insects, fungus or disease make their way into it. 

In our life we are the plant that has taken the seed and put things in our life to foster its growth.  We also have to be just as diligent to take those things out of our life that can discourage our growth or bring harm our way. 

A plant can die from the stress of cold or heat. Just like our faith can die from the stress of bad relationships, bad environments and bad things we put into it. 

If the seed is strong it will grow. The smallest of seeds can produced the greatest of plants. 

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15:4-8‬