SEEDS

“And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.” – Genesis 1:11

Reflection

I’ve been pondering this verse today, asking the Holy Spirit to help me see the wonder of what God has made in something as small as a seed. The more I think on it, the more amazed I am.

Throughout Scripture, seeds carry common themes. They are small. They are planted. They grow. When they mature, they produce fruit. And in dying, they scatter more seeds—repeating the cycle again and again.

We often equate “small” with “insignificant.” But nothing God has created is insignificant. One apple seed can yield a tree that feeds generations. One corn kernel can multiply into a harvest. A single dandelion spore can cover a field.

In the same way, words we speak are seeds. A discouraging word can wound deeply, while an encouraging word can produce a harvest of hope. If I could see every person as an orchard waiting to bloom, I’d be far more careful about the seeds I scatter.

Like dandelions in the wind, we sometimes plant unintentionally. We don’t always know the soil our words will land on. But whether they are words of life or words that cut down, seeds always grow into something. Spiritual seeds are far more prolific than we realize.

Seeds are tiny, yet with God’s power they yield tremendous things. His Word is a bag of good seed, designed to bear fruit when planted, watered, and pruned. And the greatest seed He ever planted was His Son, Jesus Christ.

I remember when I was four, my mom gave me marigold seeds, potting soil, and an old muffin tin. I planted them, watered them, and then folded my arms over the dirt, waiting for them to spring up within minutes. “Well, come on!” I told the seeds. “Let’s go!”

Mom laughed at my impatience. She explained that it would take a week or more before I saw anything. “They need to grow quietly,” she said. “You’ll wake up one morning, and they’ll be there.”

I’m 62 now, and I still find myself saying to the Lord, “Let’s go! I haven’t got all day!” But God reminds me that seeds grow quietly. It’s the “still, small voice” that does the real work.

What was Father God’s vision when He planted the Seed in Mary? Not just one apple, but an orchard. Not just a kernel, but acres of grain. Not just one Son, but multitudes of believers. And just as in nature, that harvest required death. For seeds to multiply, something must die.

So it is with us. God plants us, waters us with His Word, prunes us with care, and calls us to bear fruit. But parts of us must die so that better seeds can be produced. Jesus, God’s Perfect Seed, died so that we might live and multiply as seeds after His kind.

Next Resurrection Sunday, (most call this Easter) when lilies decorate our churches and homes, think of the new crop that springs from last year’s flowers—life born out of death. Then look around at the believers beside you. Many are here because someone before them died to self so that new life could grow.

And finally, look to Jesus—the Seed planted by His Father, who grew, withered, and died, so that the world could live. Alive and well forever, He is the greatest Seed of all. And because He lives, the harvest continues. Every seed of faith planted in His name carries resurrection power.

Prayer

Dear Lord, water me with Your Word and help me to sow only good seeds. Amen.

Thank you for reading! This blog exists to bring biblical clarity to the stories shaping our world. If you’ve been encouraged, share this post with someone who needs truth and hope today. Together, let’s stand firm in Christ – where faith meets the front page. These are my thoughts. What are yours?

This devotional, written when he was in diapers, is dedicated to Charlie Kirk. He was a seed God planted and watered and grew and pruned. Charlie flourished and died and left many good seeds in his wake. Charlie, we can't thank you enough.