Farming for Jesus - Part 2 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 2 of 4

Sowing

“Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9:10-11‬

The second part of the farming process is sowing or planting the seed. 

You take the right seed and put it in the right soil. It has to be done just right or the seed will never grow. The farmer has to use the right tools to plant the seed at the right depth and to cover the seed just right to encourage proper growth. 

I remember a time my youngest son and I planted corn. We cultivated the soil and then we placed a line where our first row would be. Actually it was the only row, but we wanted it straight. So we used a piece of plastic pvc pipe at each end, hammered them into the ground and then ran a long line of mason string to make it straight. 

We used a dowel and marked off a line for our seed depth. Then we walked the line, pushed the dowel down to make a hole and then we continued with the process. We made about 200 holes in our line and now it was time to plant the seed. 

We had properly maintained and selected the soil. We selected our spot for our corn based on the sun and soil type. We even made sure there was a natural barrier in place to promote growth. 

Lucas carefully walked along the line and placed one seed in each hole. Making sure the seed went into the hole was very important. The seed wouldn’t grow unless it was in the right soil, at the right place, at the right time and at the right depth. If it didn’t make it in the hole, it could be eaten by an animal, washed away or it could wither and die. 

After the seeds were planted, he went back and covered each hole. Carefully pushing and pulling dirt over it, not pressing too hard and then he sat and watched. 

I asked Lucas what he was doing. He said he was waiting for them to grow. I told him it would be a couple months before any corn grew but that we might see a sprout come through the soil in about two weeks. 

Months later we had a row of plants. Some were full and tall and green. Others didn’t appear to grow at all. 

Later I looked at the directions and it said to put three to four seeds in the hole for a better chance at growth. Some of the seed, the manufacture admitted, might not grow. One seed might not do it, five or six might be too many

So where does all this fit in with cultivating Jesus in your life?  I’m glad you asked. 

The seed (Jesus) is the most important part. Don’t get me wrong, cultivating and growing and harvesting are important as well. But without the seed, nothing will grow. You can have great soil, and you can water it and you can wait - and, well, you see what I mean. 

And if you want Jesus to grown in your life, not just any old seed will work. I tried the worldly seed, it had disastrous results. 

Jesus has to be put in your life if there is any hope of it growing. The best way to put Him in your life is through reading the Bible, turning your life over to Him, asking Him to save you from yourself, repenting from your sins and knowing that He died on the cross for you and your sins. Once you give your life to Jesus you will see growth, but only if you continue to water and feed and maintain the relationship. 

Remember, if you try too much you take the risk of overwhelming yourself and getting discouraged. If you don’t do enough, it may take a long time or the seed might not take.

Many of us have the right soil and conditions for Jesus to be planted into our life. And then once we put Jesus in our life, we wait. We sit and wait for something to happen. There’s more things to do on our end in order for that seed to grow. 

We have to protect the seed. We have to feed it and water it. We have to pull weeds around it.  And we can’t neglect it. If we neglect Jesus in our life it won’t grow. If we don’t feed our relationship with Jesus it won’t grow. If we walk away from Jesus in our life, it will have horrible results.  I know this from personal experience. But the worst thing to do, is to never put Him in your life

We can encourage our relationship with Jesus by reading the Bible, going to a Bible believing, Bible preaching church and by prayer.  We can surround ourselves with like minded Christians. 

Through proper soil preparation and seed placement, our growth and harvest will be successful. 

I encourage you take seek a relationship with Jesus Christ in your life today.

“And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭4:30-32‬