1 Corinthians 3:5-9What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
Early this morning I went outside and dug a little
ditch behind our lilies. In the row I sprinkled seeds, zinnias and forget-me-nots.
The seed packets suggested I plant them in April, where they would grow in full
sun. Zinnias have filled my flower beds with color before. I love the bright
reds, pinks and yellows. The blue forget-me-nots will be pretty with the orange
tiger lilies. Hopefully in a few weeks, I'll see little green sprouts pop out
of the ground. But, all I can do now is
water and wait. I can't make them grow. That's up to God.
As Christ followers, we may plant the seed of
God's word and truth in the heart of a friend. We may even do a little watering
through prayer and compassion. But God is the one who brings growth. He's the
one who causes the sprout to burst through the ground and mature in to a
blooming flower. He's the one who leads our friend on the path to him. We have
a purpose, in planting and watering, but God has the ultimate task of bringing
growth.
When I was a young Christian, I thought I had to win
people to Jesus all by myself. My heart ached when I couldn't find a way to
bring someone completely to Christ. I even found myself getting in God's way.
As I grew in the word, I began to understand my purpose. Once I figured out
that I was a planter, a sower of the word. I found peace. As a Jesus' follower,
plant the seed, sprinkle the water, and allow God to do the rest. He knows what
he's doing!
What seeds do you like to sow?