Seed – Potential Life, Starting Point

The future life of anything is in the seed – it is the means of continuation and increase. What is sown determines what is reaped, and only seed that is sown can multiply.

Life Through Death and Multiplication

Seeds are often insignificant in size, yet their potential to grow and reproduce is phenomenal. In the plant realm they may lie hidden and out of sight in the ground, only to appear with boundless life. In many realms there must be the death of the seed before the resulting multiplication takes place (Jn 12:24; 1 Cor 15:36-38). In the parable of the sower, although the same seed was used there were four vastly different outcomes, and even with the fertile soil there were three levels of productivity, showing the more conducive the environment the better the germination and growth (Joel 1:17; Mt 13:3-23).

The seed of God indwells us at salvation, so it is our responsibility to “Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you – guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us” so it grows and develops to maturity (2 Tim 2:14; 1 Pet 1:23; 1 Jn 3:9).

Sowing Determines the Harvest

In our lives there are various outcomes, depending on the way we live (Gal 6:7-10). As the seed determines the crop, what do you want to reap? Sow the seed that will ensure that harvest, as God won’t cause what we have not sown to increase (Ps 126:6; Mk 4:26-29; 1 Cor 3:6-7; 2 Cor 9:10). Sow good seed if you desire to reap a harvest of like quality – only seed sown can multiply; left in the packet it won’t produce!

What sort of seed am I sowing?

Seeds take time to grow, but grow they will – into true replicas of the parent stock! As the Bible also calls family descendants “seed”, hopefully you are leaving a legacy by passing good character qualities on down through the family line, so the seed sown in your life continues to bear fruit in those who come after you (Gen 3:15; 15:3).

Weeds and Wrong Seed Thoughts

Temptation and all wrong seed thoughts must be nipped in the bud and dealt with early so they do not take hold, because wickedness, like weeds, seems to increase without any assistance or effort on account of the sinful bias in our fallen nature (Hos 10:12; Mt 13:24-32).

Actions, except for spontaneous ones, start with an idea or thought. These seeds need to be analysed – are they beneficial and desirable and worthy of being developed further, or are they destructive and ungodly and to be rejected?

Reflection and Application:

Sow deliberately – choose today the seed that will produce the harvest you desire.
Guard the deposit – nurture the seed of God’s word within you until it matures.
Weed early – reject wrong thoughts before they take root and multiply.
Think generational – pass on seed, in character and faith, worth reproducing.