Last spring I noticed, in my shrub beds, that I suddenly had these little plants that were popping up. I never planted them there so I was really curious what they were and how they got there. In a short time flowers began blooming on them. I was so excited because I really love flowers and I had done absolutely nothing to get these little beauties. They just appeared as if by design. Needless to say, I began to water them and feed them, cultivating new growth and soon they were propagating, filling in the whole bed with glorious, colorful life.
Obviously, the seeds from someone else’s plants were scattered by the winds and landed in my beds. I cared for them, nurtured them and most likely their seeds have been scattered, once again, to beautify another person’s life. It’s simple, yet mysterious at the same time.
This is how the Word of God works. The simplicity of its truth, whether heard in a few words or many, lands upon the heart of someone open to receive this little seed. It may have dropped there back in the dark of Autumn but like a little pinhole of light, it penetrates the soul. Eventually, someone comes along and waters it and perhaps another begins to feed it with a little more of this glorious light from the Word and a new life begins to sprout up.
Some will scatter, some will water and some will feed. All three are necessary for cultivation and propagation but not everyone will do all three. So, if there are little pinholes of light bringing God’s Word into the dark places, be thankful rather than critical of the one who scatters. They may do it imperfectly but that doesn’t mean it will be ineffective. If it lands on a ready heart —it will get watered, fed and, in time, bloom into someone beautiful. After all, it is all God’s work. We just get the privilege of participating in this simply beautiful mystery.
“There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.””
John 3:1-8 NLT
