Do You Have God’s Saving Seed?

Do You Have God’s Saving Seed?

 

Good Morning Friends,

 

Today we consider how we wrestle with the issues of life in reading the stories of the Bible that seem to have an ending and then surprises us with an epilogue that gives the story life and brings to light something new. Out of the seeds of the story is born a new story. Out of the light, the bright and beautiful face of Jesus and His view from the cross is born our salvation.  That is the nature of the Bible, of Jesus and the nature of the Christian seed… of creation itself. This message of continuity and continuation is never more evident than in the death of Jesus, for in that singular moment Jesus supersedes time and place…planting His seeds of forgiveness everywhere… yesterday, today, tomorrow. Friends, if we are to bear fruit for the Kingdom we must have the seed of the King in us. Do You Have God’s Saving Seed?

 

Scripture: I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

 

Genesis 3:15 (NRSV)

 

The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me. ” So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.” The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.

 
 

Genesis 32:22-31 (NRSV)

 

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brothers and sisters, I give an example from daily life: once a person’s will has been ratified, no one adds to it or annuls it. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring; it does not say, “And to offsprings,” as of many; but it says, “And to your offspring,” that is, to one person, who is Christ.

 

Galatians 3:13-16 (NRSV)

 

Goodness is the harvest that is produced from the seeds the peacemakers plant in peace.

 

James 3:18 (TEV)

 

The wicked earn no real gain, but those who sow righteousness get a true reward.

 

Proverbs 11:18 (NRSV)

 

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

 

Matthew 28:19-20 (NRSV)

 

Message: Moses, Jonah, Paul, Elijah, and Gideon all wrestled with God. Most of their stories may warm our hearts but at the same time challenge our heads.  We do so like the underdog to win but we do not want them to be humiliated.  Today’s scripture includes a story about such a struggle…wrestling with God…and wondering who is going to win that contest. Jacob was a good wrestler. He had been wrestling with his brother before they were born. He was grabbing Esau’s heel to unseat him in the womb. He had practiced for many years. The problem was that Jacob needed to deepen his relationship with God. Jacob needed a little humbling…he needed a name change. And that is just the blessing he receives. So in today’s scripture and devotional we learn about sowing the seeds of spiritual leadership, saving the faith in the face of difficult times, as we keep the message alive, keep the garden growing, keep the family in the word carrying out the tasks for the harvest. God is looking over our shoulder even now. Hopefully we are mindful of the last words of the resurrected Jesus as he tells His followers what they must do, what we must do to sow the seed of Christ. But we wrestle with the scripture even as that scoundrel and a deceiver, Jacob. He had tricked his brother out of his birthright and its blessing. Still he teaches us that when we struggle with God we must keep a firm grasp of our faith. To receive the greater blessing of grace we must receive, read, reflect, relate and respond to God’s word. Cling to the words and carry them out. So, let the Word and the Word made flesh and the presence of the Holy Spirit save you, grow in you, and produce fruit in you, so that you will for the next generation save the seeds of our salvation. We must accept the call to share the light in us, sacrifice the seed in us and be patient enough to await the harvest. Even though we are just mortal mud, He molds us and grows in us a seed of connection to the eternal.  Let us rejoice in the seed of Mary’s womb. Let us remember that the law of sowing and reaping proclaims that life is everywhere God’s Kingdom prevails. So friends, plant the seeds. Tend the plants. Reap the harvest. Keep the dream alive. Those who sow seeds of love and tend them will harvest friends. Those that plant and tend faith will harvest blessings.  Those who plant and tend a belief in Christ’s grace will harvest fruits in God’s Kingdom of eternal Grace.

 

Pray we sow seeds of hope. Pray the power of the seed of the Word bears fruit in each of us. Pray that our faith grows like a mustard seed. Pray that we prepare our hearts and minds so the seeds of love might grow in us. Pray that we see that the power of the Word of God is the power of the Seed of God, Jesus. Pray that we prepare for our next encounter with God by living a life of sowing the seeds of our faith.
Pray we share our faith when we hear a cry for help. Pray our motive is always one of love. Pray we sow the seed of the good news of God’s grace to His glory.

 

Blessings,

 

John Lawson