Dying to Live

 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. John 12:24

The garden is coming along nicely. I love seeing the little sprouts coming through the soil. Peas are blooming, beans and cucumbers are climbing, tiny tomatoes are forming green. In a couple of weeks, I’m going to need help harvesting and canning all these delicious, organic veggies. I’m wondering who I can enlist to help.

I think it’s amazing how a little seed contains all the DNA to create a huge plant or even a tree but that little seed has to die for the plant to live. The plant puts down roots to draw nutrients from the soil as it pushes the tiny leaves up through the soil to the sky. You say, sure I know all that, but have you thought about how we as Christians must be just like that plant. When we asked Jesus for forgiveness, we die to our old way of life and begin a new life. To grow, we must be rooted in God’s word and built up in the faith (Col.2:7). The little plants in my garden are soaking up nutrients from the soil through their roots. Their little leaves emerge folded as if in prayer, opening up toward heaven. If any part of the process fails the plant will wither and die. If we fail to study and pray, our testimonies will fail and we will bear no fruit.

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The plant that thrives produces flowers, then fruit. A Christian who thrives blossoms into a strong Christian who wins souls. If each of us follows through with God’s plan for us to be fruitful Christians, think of how the world would change, beginning with our own families.

Speaking of beginning, how about today? Have you spent time in God’s Word? Have you prayed to know God’s will?  

HEY KIDS: If you would like to see how a seed grows, soak several lima beans overnight. The coat on the seed will be wrinkled and easy to remove.

1.       Remove the skin from one seed.

2.       Carefully open the seed.

3.       On one half of the open seed you will find a tiny root and a tiny set of white leaves. Use a magnifying glass to get a closer look.

4.       Place the remaining seeds with the coat still attached on a damp paper towel.

5.       Place the towel inside a ziplock bag and place the bag in a sunny window.

6.       Check the bag every day to see the seed dissolving as the plant emerges.

7.       Remove the paper towel with the emerging plants from the bag and place in the garden or a pot of soil.

8.       Keep watching to see your plant flower and produce fruit.

I’d love to read your observations. Photos would be cool too. Won’t you post them in the comment section as your plants grow? Please share how you are growing in the Lord as well.