One-minute read.
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.
Matthew 12:33
Whatever seeds you plant determines the seeds that grow. Jesus uses this parable to make a point with the Pharisees, a “brood of vipers.” Religious leaders stalked around arrogantly judging others rather than loving them. When Christ came to Earth, He did so as an act of love. Every seed the Lord planted produced love, leading with grace and humility, and people responded to Christ’s counter-cultural message.
When we respond with love, we plant eternal seeds that have the power to change people’s lives and transform them. We don’t always see the results of the seeds we plant for Jesus. God will send others to water them and help them grow. But when we reach heaven, we’ll discover the fruit we helped produce for the Lord.
You can choose to have a crabby attitude and produce bitter fruit. Or you can develop a Christ-like approach to life by becoming more like Jesus. Leading with love, you can’t go wrong. For over 2000 years, the church has continued to grow as Jesus’s followers strive to plant Godly seeds, doing their best to produce good fruit for the Lord.
Decide to plant seeds of love wherever you go today. When the world throws you lemons, add sugar and make lemonade. Remember, this too shall pass. Our best days lie ahead of us; the better fruit we plant, the more people we’ll have to share them with.
Journaling Questions:
Who planted good seeds in your life?
Who helped water the seeds others planted in you?
How can you plant seeds of love today?
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for putting people in our lives who planted good seeds. Help us plant seeds of love today and every day. Let us produce good fruit as we strive to follow and obey You. Allow us to become more like Jesus as we plant harvests of love.
IJNIP. Amen
