Uncommen: SowSample

Germination

Reflecting upon what God is doing within us, let’s look at what He is doing through the garden. It has been one week since I placed the seedlings. Notice the difference in each of the plants. Some progress faster than others, and that is ok. As our brothers and sisters mature at God’s pace, so do the plants. We must show them, love.

It all began when God saw “it was good” as formlessness turned into a structure like a seed filled with beauty. Before meeting Christ, we are all formless. We become a work in progress, just as seeds seek transformation. We become immersed in His Word to seek self-revelation to blossom through change. God’s Word is like the cotyledon, supplying nutrition to the plant embryo. The cotyledon provides everything the seed needs to germinate and grow. It is an opportunity to find peace in God’s will. (Acts 17:26)

Rather than ask God to bless our ways, what if we pursued His courses and let the answers reveal through His guided wisdom? God’s will and our will can meet at the intersection where the cotyledon feeds us to make the best decision. When we make the right decisions, we can rest confidently in following God’s will. (Psalm 139:13) How we read the Bible helps or hinders our pathway to this wisdom.

There is a difference in how we read a newspaper, textbook, or love letter. It would be rare to read a schoolbook or newspaper with great anticipation compared to how you would approach reading a letter from a loved one. However, we can most likely remember exactly where we were when we received an “I love you text” or note. Think of scripture as the loving cotyledon, providing the nutrition we need to thrive.

When we approach scripture more than a love letter or a textbook, we are less analytical, judgmental, and less likely to seek a literal, analytical filter. Our soul longs for more from scripture than just analytics; there is a desire for purpose, understanding, and love—our soul longs for spiritual nutrition. We must read it for a relationship. Like the plant nutrient, we absorb what we are immersed in, good or bad. God gives us all the nutrients we need.

The transformation from the scriptures is not just for our minds. But the heart, soul, body, emotions, and curiosity that grows it is also our will, understanding, and personal relationship with God. We become a tool in God’s control through a listening stance, not our authority. The intimacy opens up more profound truths, reveals our selfish hearts, and prepares us for harvest.

Questions:

What gets in your way of seeing yourself the way God sees you?

What mistakes, faults, or flaws have you been paying attention to in yourself that distract you from resting in God’s love for you?