Cultivate: Re-Plant
The Cultivating Life: From Fruit to Seeds
In the journey of faith, we often focus on bearing fruit - love, joy, peace, and other virtues that mark a life transformed by Christ. But what if there's more to the story? What if the fruit we bear is meant not just for our own nourishment, but as seeds to be planted in the lives of others?
This powerful concept brings us to the heart of Jesus' teachings, particularly His final words to His disciples before ascending to heaven. Known as the Great Commission, these words in Matthew 28:19-20 have shaped the mission of the church for centuries:
"Therefore, go 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 I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
At first glance, this passage seems to contain multiple commands - go, make disciples, baptize, teach. However, in the original Greek, there's only one main verb: make disciples. Everything else flows from this central calling. It's not just about preaching the gospel or baptizing converts; it's about cultivating lifelong followers of Jesus who will, in turn, cultivate others.
This brings us to a crucial question: What exactly is a disciple? In Jesus' time, a disciple (or "talmid" in Hebrew) was more than just a student. They didn't merely sit at their rabbi's feet to learn; they followed in their footsteps, seeking to embody their teacher's way of life. The highest compliment for a disciple was to be told, "The dust of your rabbi is all over you" - meaning they followed so closely that whatever the rabbi stepped in splashed up on them.
Similarly, to be a disciple of Jesus means more than just knowing His teachings. It means living as He lived, loving as He loved, serving as He served. A disciple is:
This brings us to the challenging realization that being a disciple inherently means being a disciple-maker. When Jesus called His first followers, He said, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). The call to follow and the call to bring others along are inseparably linked.
But how do we do this? In a world of big ministries, evangelistic rallies, and mega-churches, it's easy to feel inadequate. Yet, God's plan has always been person-to-person, intentional witness as we live ordinary lives filled with the Holy Spirit. You don't need to be a gifted speaker or have a large platform. You simply need to be available to the Holy Spirit and faithful in scattering seeds of faith in your everyday interactions.
Jesus illustrates this beautifully in the parable of the growing seed in Mark 4:26-29:
"This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."
Our role is to faithfully scatter seeds, trusting God for the growth. We're not responsible for making the crop grow; we're simply called to be faithful in our part and trust God for the rest.
This truth is powerfully illustrated in the story of Edward Kimball, a Sunday school teacher in Boston in 1858. Kimball faithfully visited one of his students, D.L. Moody, at the shoe shop where he worked, praying with him regularly. One day, Moody gave his life to Christ. Little did Kimball know that this act of faithfulness would spark a chain reaction of evangelism that would eventually lead to the conversion of Billy Graham, one of the most influential evangelists of the 20th century.
The story reminds us that our small acts of faithfulness can have far-reaching impacts we may never see. It challenges us to ask: Who is our "one"? Who has God placed in our path to love, serve, and share Christ with?
As we reflect on these truths, two vital questions emerge:
The beauty of God's kingdom is that every disciple is born to reproduce. You don't need to have it all figured out or be perfect in your faith. You simply need to be willing to share what you do know and invite others to grow alongside you.
As we cultivate our own spiritual lives, may we never forget that the fruit we bear is meant to become seeds. Seeds of faith, hope, and love planted in the lives of those around us. For in this way, the kingdom of God grows - one life at a time, spreading from person to person, until the whole field is ripe for harvest.
So today, open your eyes to see those God has placed in your path. Open your heart to love them as Christ loves you. And open your mouth to share the hope that is within you. For you never know how far the seeds you plant may spread, or what kind of harvest they may yield in generations to come.
This powerful concept brings us to the heart of Jesus' teachings, particularly His final words to His disciples before ascending to heaven. Known as the Great Commission, these words in Matthew 28:19-20 have shaped the mission of the church for centuries:
"Therefore, go 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 I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
At first glance, this passage seems to contain multiple commands - go, make disciples, baptize, teach. However, in the original Greek, there's only one main verb: make disciples. Everything else flows from this central calling. It's not just about preaching the gospel or baptizing converts; it's about cultivating lifelong followers of Jesus who will, in turn, cultivate others.
This brings us to a crucial question: What exactly is a disciple? In Jesus' time, a disciple (or "talmid" in Hebrew) was more than just a student. They didn't merely sit at their rabbi's feet to learn; they followed in their footsteps, seeking to embody their teacher's way of life. The highest compliment for a disciple was to be told, "The dust of your rabbi is all over you" - meaning they followed so closely that whatever the rabbi stepped in splashed up on them.
Similarly, to be a disciple of Jesus means more than just knowing His teachings. It means living as He lived, loving as He loved, serving as He served. A disciple is:
- A worshiper, surrendering all aspects of life to God's glory
- A family member, actively committed to the body of Christ
- A servant, using any power or privilege to benefit others
- A steward, managing God's gifts for His purposes
- A witness, proclaiming Christ in word and deed
This brings us to the challenging realization that being a disciple inherently means being a disciple-maker. When Jesus called His first followers, He said, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). The call to follow and the call to bring others along are inseparably linked.
But how do we do this? In a world of big ministries, evangelistic rallies, and mega-churches, it's easy to feel inadequate. Yet, God's plan has always been person-to-person, intentional witness as we live ordinary lives filled with the Holy Spirit. You don't need to be a gifted speaker or have a large platform. You simply need to be available to the Holy Spirit and faithful in scattering seeds of faith in your everyday interactions.
Jesus illustrates this beautifully in the parable of the growing seed in Mark 4:26-29:
"This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."
Our role is to faithfully scatter seeds, trusting God for the growth. We're not responsible for making the crop grow; we're simply called to be faithful in our part and trust God for the rest.
This truth is powerfully illustrated in the story of Edward Kimball, a Sunday school teacher in Boston in 1858. Kimball faithfully visited one of his students, D.L. Moody, at the shoe shop where he worked, praying with him regularly. One day, Moody gave his life to Christ. Little did Kimball know that this act of faithfulness would spark a chain reaction of evangelism that would eventually lead to the conversion of Billy Graham, one of the most influential evangelists of the 20th century.
The story reminds us that our small acts of faithfulness can have far-reaching impacts we may never see. It challenges us to ask: Who is our "one"? Who has God placed in our path to love, serve, and share Christ with?
As we reflect on these truths, two vital questions emerge:
- Are you a disciple? Not just a Christian in name, but a true follower of Jesus, seeking to embody His teachings and way of life in every aspect of your being?
- Are you a disciple-maker? Are you intentionally bringing others along in the journey of faith, regardless of where you are in your own growth?
The beauty of God's kingdom is that every disciple is born to reproduce. You don't need to have it all figured out or be perfect in your faith. You simply need to be willing to share what you do know and invite others to grow alongside you.
As we cultivate our own spiritual lives, may we never forget that the fruit we bear is meant to become seeds. Seeds of faith, hope, and love planted in the lives of those around us. For in this way, the kingdom of God grows - one life at a time, spreading from person to person, until the whole field is ripe for harvest.
So today, open your eyes to see those God has placed in your path. Open your heart to love them as Christ loves you. And open your mouth to share the hope that is within you. For you never know how far the seeds you plant may spread, or what kind of harvest they may yield in generations to come.
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