Planting seed by hand can seem magical. In your hand the seed looks insignificant and lifeless. Yet you put the seed into the soil, and the natural process of life begins. All by itself, the seed germinates and sprouts and reaches to the sun. Except when it doesn’t! Plant multiple seeds and often only some, perhaps just a small amount, will sprout. The reality is that once the seed leaves your hand, you are at the mercy of forces beyond your control.

Today, God uses that experience from nature to explain the supernatural process by which God calls humans to faith through the gospel. The Christian can plant the seed of the gospel into the soil of another’s heart. What happens after that is completely beyond our control. Yet God promises us that his Word always accomplishes his good purposes. Even where is seems there will be no fruit, God often provides a harvest!