The Seed Makes the Plant

STORY: What About Those Seeds?

Pumpkin carving looks so easy but can go so wrong. It starts with scooping out those slimy, webby seeds. So many of them! They remind me of scooping seeds out of melon or spaghetti squash. Those same seeds can be petty yummy when roasted and salted. A snack, even!

Once they are gone, then it’s time to decide on a jack-o-lantern design. It sure seems like the simpler, the better (unless you are an artist). Then there’s the knife selection—buying a toolkit designed for pumpkin carving is probably best.

After that, it’s time to light it up and set it out at dark. Welcome to fall!

I think of a few life comparisons.

• Seeds—can be good or bad, depending on how you use them. Just like we can plant good seeds or bad seeds.
• Scooping out the gook—we need to remove anything that will keep the light from shining.
• Design—each one of us has a different design. We don’t have to be fancy to be effective.
• Knife—we have access to the best tool of all. God’s Word is a sword able to divide the soul and spirit while discerning the mind’s thoughts and the heart’s intentions.
• Light—will we shine where we’re placed—even in the dark?

We all know what happens if a pumpkin sits around too long on the porch. So I’m not going to sit around too long here—let’s dig into the Scripture for this week’s study.

STUDY: The Good and Bad Seeds

Thieves are jealous of each other’s loot, but the godly are well rooted and bear their own fruit. (Proverbs 12:12 NLT)

• What negative trait does this verse mention?
• What positive trait do you see here?

A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends. (Proverbs 16:28 NLT)

• Here are some more bad seeds. What are they?
• What do you think the motive is when strife seeds are planted?

Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster, and their reign of terror will come to an end. (Proverbs 22:8 NLT)

• Identify the bad seed here.
• What is the result of planting injustice?

Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. He will delight in obeying the Lord. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay. He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked. He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment. (Isaiah 11:1-5 NLT)

• We see a lot of good fruit here, coming because of being rooted in the Lord. What positives do you see mentioned?
• What happens when the Spirit of the Lord is active?

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. (Galatians 6:7 NLT)

• What bad seed do you notice?
• How can we be sure we have a good harvest?

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:10 NLT)

• What bad seed is mentioned? Why do you think it is the root of evil?
• How can you be sure not to wander from the true faith?

So keep at your work, this faith and love rooted in Christ, exactly as I set it out for you. It’s as sound as the day you first heard it from me. Guard this precious thing placed in your custody by the Holy Spirit who works in us. (2 Timothy 1:13-14 MSG)

• What is the good seed in this verse?
• What is the precious thing placed in your custody by the Holy Spirit?
• How do you guard it?

So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. (James 1:21 NLT)

• What is the bad seed in this passage?
• What is the good seed?
• What action step does this verse recommend?
• Why is this step so powerful?

And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. (James 3:18 NLT)

• What is the good seed in this verse?
• What is the harvest?
• How do you think peace leads to righteousness?

STEPS: A Busy Gardener

1. Check your seeds. Before you plant, make sure you are dealing with good seeds. Get rid of the bad seeds before they can take root.
2. Weed your plants. If your bad seeds have taken root, it’s not too late to deal with the problem. It’s just time to weed. What goes and what stays?
3. Plan your harvest. Each step of gardening requires intention. Be mindful about what you’re planting. Be willing to do the work involved in every step of the process. Don’t neglect the water and the sun. Give plant food if necessary. Harvest when the fruit is ripe.

Copyright © 2020 Kathy Carlton Willis, used with permission.