Whoever Wants Fruit Must Be Willing to Work With Seeds

A woman goes to the Farmer's Market to pick up some local flowers and fresh vegetables.  She moves leisurely through the market, chatting and conversing with each of the vendors, buying various herbs and flowers and some  lovely, fresh bell peppers.  The woman finally comes to a small stand that was manned by Christ Jesus Himself.

Jesus held out his hand and said, "I have the greatest of fruit in all of creation.  Anything you want, just ask me and I will give it to you."  The woman, without hesitation, bursts out, "I want joy, peace, faith, wisdom," and a slew of other things, adding, "Can I get enough for my neighbors and the whole world too?"

Jesus smiles gently and replies, "I don't think you understand, young lady.  I have seeds, which are the powerful Word of God.  But it is up to you to plant them and to care for their growth, though I will bless whoever is willing to commit to the work."  The woman walks away dejected because of her impatience.  She wanted the greatness of God now without the work it required.

One of Jesus' first parables is the Parable of the Sower; it goes something like this:

A sower went out to sow.  As he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell along the rocky ground, where the they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up because of the shallow soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched.  Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.  While other seeds fell among good soil and produced grain.

Jesus is describing the Word of God takes root in the hearts of humans.  Like the woman at the stand, many of us would prefer the full-grown fruits of God and righteousness instead of a seed.  But God gives us the seed of His Word, and asks us to plant it within our hearts.  And though we would all assume that we are the good soil described in the parable.  But if we are not willing to plant, to till, and care for the seed, which equates to Spirit-led Bible study put into practice, then we take on the soil characteristics of the other soils. We should be sure to accept the reality of our responsibility to the cultivation of God's Word appropriated to our lives.  Let us then commit with diligence to the task of working the seeds in our lives.  And by the power of God working in us we will be blessed with godly fruits!