We Are Sowers

As late summer has turned into fall, I have begun to notice the white puffs from the dandelions floating about on the breeze. I know the plant itself is a nuisance but there is something ethereal to me the way those delicate puffs sail along until the wind drops them on the ground to carry on the life of the plant. Once the flower head has matured, it closes up and the withered flowers contract into a bud-like shape and fall away, leaving just the tufty white parts called pappi, which will help wind disperse the dandelion fruits or cypsela.

In similar fashion we as Christians are to disperse our fruits as well, just as Jesus teaches in Matthew 13 about planting spiritual seeds. Spreading the good news of God’s love and mercy is a lot like planting seeds. Serving others, having compassion, offering encouragement or comfort, building safe and nurturing homes for our children, doing our jobs as “unto Him”, praying for those who suffer, and witnessing to others are all ways we “scatter the seeds” of Christ’s love.

We must remember that not always will we see the result of the seeds that have been planted. Plant that seed whenever you feel the nudging of the Holy Spirit, realizing that He is the true gardener. By being open and then responsive to that nudge, we are obeying God by sharing the Good News. In verses 1-9 of Matthew 13, we read that the seeds fall in different areas – some fell onto the path and was eaten by birds, other seeds fell onto rocky ground where the soil wasn’t deep enough and therefore the sprouts dried up. There was thorny ground where seeds fell and were choked out by the thorny plants BUT some seeds fell on good ground, bore fruit to as much as a hundredfold!

Each of us has a part to play in spreading the Gospel, but God causes it to grow as we see in 1 Corinthians 3:7, “So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” (KJV)

In addition, II Corinthians 9:10 says this, “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.” (KJV) Make no mistake, God will provide you and me as His sowers what we need for the task at hand.

The last stanza of the poem by Timothy Whitt closes this devotion perfectly:

God tells us to sow the seeds

Sow the seeds, sow the seeds

He'll do the rest.