Cultivating a Spiritual Crop
All children of God are called to bear spiritual fruit, to cultivate a spiritual crop. What this means for each of us is a little different. We’ve been gifted and wired special and peculiar ways. God has created us unique and also our callings will be unique. Hence we are not to compare ourselves with each other. We are to do the creative best we can with our own life and help others along the way. The main goal for all of us is to bring glory to God with everything we do.
Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life. (Gal. 6: 4-5, MSG)
All our actions are seeds planted in the soil of life. It really does matter what we do, what we pray, what we think, what we say. They’re all seeds we’re planting. What we plant, we will harvest. What kind of seeds do you want to plant? What kind of harvest do you want to reap?
Be very sure now, you who have been trained to a self-sufficient maturity, that you enter into a generous common life with those who have trained you, sharing all the good things that you have and experience. Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. (Gal. 6: 6-8, MSG)
We are to plant in response to God. We are to follow God’s guidance and his plan for our life. When we let the Holy Spirit work in us and through us we will eventually harvest a spiritual crop, eternal life. But we need to be faithful in planting. We need to keep on doing good even when we don’t see results. Cultivating a crop does take time and lots of hard work. We need to weed, water and nurture while planting more seeds. We need to have patience to wait and endure growing pangs. But we are not to quit. There will be a harvest! At the right time we will harvest a good crop instead of weeds. Let’s keep on keeping on!
So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith. (Gal. 6: 9-10, MSG)
Gracious God,
Thank you for giving meaning for our lives.
Thank you for calling us to work for you.
Equip us with the tools we need!
Give us endurance, patience and skills to
cultivate a great spiritual crop!
Bless what we plant,
enable the growth!
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Q4U: What is hardest in cultivating a spiritual crop?
Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you plant and cultivate a spiritual crop!
This post is part of One Word at a Time: Farm Blog Carnival. Check out the other posts! Photo courtesy of Joel Milhouse
8 thoughts on “Cultivating a Spiritual Crop”
The hardest part for me in cultivating a spiritual crop is being patient, waiting on God to make it grow.
Great post.
Thanks, Lisa! Yes, patience easily wears thin when we are waiting. God bless you!
I loved the part about “We are to plant in response to God”. So many people I know, including some ministry gifts I know, get a good idea and immediately run with it. They expect God to bless it, instead of waiting on HIM and getting HIS directive. Also the bit about NOT quitting. That needs to taught and encourage more these day than ever before. I believe Christian mentors should show others what that looks like in their Christian walk. Thus, being prepared, they could “stick”! Thanks for a thoughtful, instructive post!
Thank you, Nancy, for your inspiring and thoughtful comment!
Waiting for God’s direction and timing is hard but so essential. Without God there is no point to rush into busywork. Also perseverance is much needed in our Christian walk! Nothing happens overnight.
God’s rich blessings to you, sis!
“It really does matter what we do, what we pray, what we think, what we say. They’re all seeds we’re planting.”
thank you for the encouragement – true that often we feel we are not making a difference, believing the lies of the enemy who would love for us to quit.
Thank you, HisFireFly, for your comment. They are indeed lies of the enemy! We just need to be faithful – God will take care of the rest in His good time. Abundant blessings!
I am thankful that we are all different and that we must fulfil our calling as the Holy Spirit directs us. As bloggers, we are not alike, and where one reaches a multitude, others reach only their small world. Faithfulness in planting, watering and when the harvest is ready to reap is essential. I wonder if our comments might go as far as some of our blogs do? Not worrying is perhaps the greatest step in going forth to minister. Boldness to speak (plant) to speak and pray (water) and speak again (reap) all in due season is what God expects from us.
Thanks so much for your reflective comment, Hazel! Not worrying and resting in His grace is the best way to minister. We are not able but GOD is! May God bless you and your ministry!