Letting the Seed Grow

My dad works at a farm and garden store that he took over from his older relatives, so I guess you could say that farming and gardening is in our family tree (I tried making a pun just for you Lou, but I'm not as nerdy as you, so it's not that good). As I grew up I watched my dad and brother take care of the garden behind my house. I watched him and my brother plow the garden, plant the seeds, water the seeds, and care for the plants. With each passing day, the seeds began to grow, and the roots began to dig deep into the soil. Once the roots were firm within the ground, the plant began to make its breakthrough of the surface. The continuous care of my padre and hermano helped the seeds produce beautiful tomatoes, cucumbers, cantaloupe, and different kinds of fruits or vegetables (whatever they are). I always laughed, and still do, every time my mom came in the house after picking a tomato and getting so excited about how good it looked. The hard work that my family put into the garden was rewarded with the beauty of the produce.

My job was to plant the seed in your hearts,
and Apollos watered it, 

but it was God, not we, who made it grow.

1 Corinthians 3:6

As Christians, our relationship with God is just like the seeds we plant in our gardens. We must first prepare ourselves to let God grow within us and to grow closer to Him. Next we need to plant the seed by letting God become the center of our lives and accepting Jesus Christ in our hearts to become our Lord and Savior. The next step is taking care of that seed, so that its roots may grow. We can do this by obeying God's commandments, studying His word, talking to Him, and seeking Him. As we take care of that seed of our faith (not letting anything destroy it), the roots will begin to grow.

Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the trust you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done. 

Colossians 2:7

We need to let our roots grow deep within God. Just as a plant needs firm roots in the ground, as Christians we need to let our faith grow deep into God and His Son Jesus Christ. Having firm roots in God and his Son allows us to be protected from those temptations and sin that are trying to break our relationship and pull us from God. We need to stand firm in our relationship with God, and we need to seek Him in everything we do.

I am the vine; you are the branches. 

Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.

For apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:5

When the roots are firm in the soil, the fruit will be produced. In our faith, after our roots are firm, our lives will begin to reflect one of Christ. We will begin to produce much fruit just as Christ tells us in His teachings. We will live the lives our God wants us to live, and begin to share that fruit with those around us, so that they may plant their own seeds of faith in God. We will begin to draw closer and closer to God; having a strong relationship with Him. Our roots will be firm in God, and nothing will be able to separate us. Nothing can destroy the beautiful fruit that we produce since our roots are strong in Him.