What you plant is what grows

If we want to be expanded by God, we need to prepare our hearts and make room for Him, and then we need to start planting the Kingdom of God in our hearts and the world around us. But we need to know what to plant: you don’t plant tomatoes if you want cucumbers (that would be insane). Even those without a green thumb will know that the seed chosen determines the harvest. And this is true every single time a seed is planted! You reap what you sow in farming and life (Galatians 6:7-10, Proverbs 22:8), both in the type and size of the crop. Plant just one seed, and you’ll get just one plant.

Farming mirrors life in this context. Expansion is about sowing into Church, mission, and community with acts of generosity. It’s about making room to listen to God and then ACTING when He calls us to bring His Kingdom, as it is in heaven, on earth. We must know what that Kingdom looks like and keep our eyes fixed on the fruit of heaven because we reap what we sow, and we get the fruit of the things we sow in our lives and the lives of others.

ASK YOURSELF THIS: What does God’s Kingdom coming on earth actually look like?

We need to check that the seeds we’re sowing come from the storehouse of the Kingdom. The attributes of a particular seed are listed on the packet (what they need, where and when they should be planted, etc.). Check your seeds are:

• Peaceful and joyful in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17)
• Starting small/humble, but growing with God’s power (Matthew 13:31-32)
• Welcoming of and with the joy of children (Matthew 19:14)
• Impossible to grow without God’s help (Luke 18:24-30)
• Powerful (1 Corinthians 4:20)
• Marked by holiness and righteousness (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

ASK YOURSELF THIS: What do you want your harvest to be, and is God planting the same thing?

We need to check that what we’re sowing into is what’s on God’s heart because those seeds will bear real, lasting fruit (vs. 8). Galatians says we sow, but God’s Spirit does the work of growth. He brings the change. We’re just labourers. We can’t bring on the weather or crack open a hard heart. But God calls us to sow, to be a part of His harvest work (see Ecclesiastes 11:6 and1 Corinthians 3:6). And when the going gets tough, when we can’t see the fruit, but we’re confident of the call, we can’t give up or quit (Galatians 6:9)! As we end this reading plan and this season of Expansion, don’t give up on the prayers you prayed, or the faith God has ignited in you. Persevere, and God promises you’ll see a good harvest (vs. 10).