Piles of white blanketed the unfurling green of the season–summer and winter clashing in a late Rocky Mountain dance. Protecting my one fledgling tomato plant, I ushered it indoors and set it on the counter.
With temperatures near freezing, I watched over a series of days as the seedling’s leaves curled and withered. Still unable to place the miniature plant outdoors, I hoped it would resurrect beneath the sun’s welcoming light. But the thin stalk browned and refused any attempts at nurturing.
Seeds and their offspring only survive in the appropriate environment.
The offspring of spiritual seed we, too, thrive–and survive–under certain conditions. But what is spiritual seed?
What is Spiritual Seed?
His fame spread like the cotton of the prairie’s trees. Eager to sit at the feet of the Rabbi who healed with the touch of his hands, men and women traipsed across dusty roads to meet the man named Jesus. When the crowd hushed, Mary’s son said,
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. (Luke 8:6-8, 11 NIV).
Jesus defined spiritual seed. In the parable, the Lord scatters the spiritual seed, but certain unfavorable conditions prohibit growth or eliminate the opportunity for the word to take root. Only seed deposited in good soil survives and results in a bountiful harvest.
The Word of God as a Spiritual Seed
Every seed encapsulates life within its frame–whether helicopter seeds descending from the limbs of a maple tree, slender sable seeds carried on the wind by feather-like petals, or a sturdy acorn nestled at the base of a gnarled oak.
As a spiritual seed, God’s word produces the following:
- The progenitor of life speaks, and life becomes. Before creation, God brooded over the darkness but at His word–life formed. John 1:1 tells us that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Word in these verses is translated from the Greek, logos, which means “a word, speech, divine utterance, analogy”.
And because Christ and the Father are one (John 10:30), Jesus represents God as the divine ‘utterance’ or ‘analogy’ of life. In John 14:6 Christ affirms, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Life that exists in the seed of the word is the same life exhibited in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Share on XLife that exists in the seed of the word is the same life exhibited in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- More than a guidebook, self-help text, or ancient map providing a moral compass, the Bible transforms. When a Christian invites the truth of scripture into her life, the seed of the Word bursts beyond the confines of its shell.
It is a new creation.
More than a guidebook, self-help text, or ancient map providing a moral compass, the Bible transforms. Share on XTherefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)
- Seeds bear fruit. Gardeners invest hours tending and nurturing their plants. Some require deadheading and may suffer from infestations while others need more watering or additional nutrients.
Our heavenly Father knows each of us personally, as well, and lovingly cares for His children. (1 John 3:1-2) Under His attention, we will flourish and produce–like any good seed–if we adhere to the command of Christ in John 15:3, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”
A Prayer of Thanks for Spiritual Seed
Lord,
Thank you for giving me physical and spiritual life. I praise your name for the transformative power of your word and for Jesus–who is life and “the light of men” (John 1:4). Scripture speaks of you as a farmer and I can envision you, kneeling as you cup each tender plant when it juts above Earth’s soil–searching for the one who plants spiritual seeds. Father, help my roots to grow deep that I will be “established in love” (Ephesians 3:17) and “bear much fruit” to your glory (John 15:7).
Amen
Peace and grace,
Tammy
I sometimes link up with the following wonderful bloggers:
Mondays Mandy and Michele/ Inspire Me Monday/Anita Ojeda Tuesdays InstaEncouragements Wednesdays Recharge Wednesday / Tell His Story//Let’s Have Coffee Thursdays ImpartingGrace/Heart Encouragement /Salt and Light Friday FriendshipFriday/Blogger Voices Network /Faith on Fire
Grace & Truth exists to point people to Jesus. We hope this link-up will be a source of encouragement every week. For a weekly reminder and access to the resource library, subscribe to [email protected].
Join us for the Grace & Truth Christian Link-Up. #graceandtruth #bloglinkup #christianbloggers Share on X
Maree Dee
Lisa Burgess
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LisaNotes1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LisaNotes
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisa_notes/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lisanotes/
Lauren Sparks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauren.k.sparks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaurenRSparks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparksbefit/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sparksfit/
Tammy Kennington
- Following your hosts via their blog and social media channels is not mandatory but appreciated!
- Leave 1-2 of your most recent Christian Living posts. Please do not link DIY, Crafts, Recipes, etc. We will delete these links. We also reserve the right to remove articles that don’t align with the theme or are deemed by the hostesses to be inappropriate.
- Visit 1-2 other links and leave a meaningful comment! We want to encourage community among us, so please don’t link and run!
- We sort all links randomly—feel free to link as early or as late as you’d like. The playing field is even!
Featured Post Requirements
- Please grab a button and link it back to one of our hosts to encourage new linkers. It is not mandatory to participate but is required to be featured.
- Tammy will choose one blog post every other week to emphasize and promote via her website and social media channels. Be sure to visit our others hosts weekly to see what they have chosen.