From the Pulpit: The farmer in the dell

By: 
Pastor Naomi Stout, Heritage Lutheran Church

This time of year, we are thankful for our hardworking farmers. It’s time for them to reap what they have sown and feed the world because of the time and effort they have put in all year. God talks a lot about seeds and sowing in the scriptures. Right from the beginning in Genesis 1:29 it says, “Then God said, ‘Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;’” Not to take away from our farmers, but God provides us all we need for life.

It is amazing if you look up how a seed grows. It can only be something that was designed by God. There are great videos on how a seed is organized and that it has all it needs in that small space to make a plant grow. Often, we refer to our faith as a seed that grows. The Holy Spirit plants this seed in our hearts when we hear the Word of God. As it says in Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Just like we need the farmer to plant, we need a preacher to speak the word to us. Preachers can be anyone, not just those of us who stand in the pulpit during worship. Preachers are the people who tell us and show us how God has changed their life through faith in Jesus. Each moment that we share is planting a seed. God does this work through us, it is designed by Him and He plants everywhere.

In Matthew 13:3-9, Jesus tells a parable of a farmer who plants seed on the way side, stony places, among the thorns and some on good soil. The point of this parable is not a lesson in where to plant, but reveals to us that God is generous in planting. He wants all people to hear His word and be saved. “God so loved the WORLD that He gave His only Son.” At the end of the parable in Matthew the seed that fell on good soil “brought forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.” Then it ends with the phrase, “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

The seed is an amazing thing. How an entire plant comes from such a small package is really a mystery. We can see all the elements when we dissect the seed but how and why it acts the way it does is a mystery. And how and why the seed of faith grows in us is also a mystery. We can try to explain it with theology, but in the end, God is the one who provides it. It is our job to simply tell everyone about Him and leave the rest up to the Holy Spirit.

The good news is that the Holy Spirit is a great farmer, the great Farmer in the Dell, and He gives us a faith that saves us and gives us eternal life. So, give thanks for our farmers but also give thanks for the farmers in your life who planted the seed of faith in you.

Category:

The Brandon Valley Journal

 

The Brandon Valley Journal
1404 E. Cedar St.
Brandon, SD 57005
(605) 582-9999

Email Us

Facebook Twitter

Please Login for Premium Content