Planting A Seed

I can remember vividly the moment that I surrendered my life to JESUS CHRIST. I also remember a few important dates leading up to that moment that changed my life forever. Literally.

On September 2, 2021 I was in the ER not feeling well and found out that I had COVID.

I spent the next 9 days progressively getting worse and on September 11th I was admitted into the hospital and put directly in the ICU.

I dont remember of the next few days other than the fact that I couldn't even sit up without feeling like I was suffocating. I remember the Doctor coming into my room on September 18th and telling me that I would be put on the ventilator soon and I need to make preparations.

I remember the Facetime call with my family.

That night was probably the first time I prayed in a long time. I asked GOD for another chance. I tried bargaining with GOD and promising to do things differently.

I prayed for what felt like hours and I remember my last prayer that night.

I prayed that no matter what GOD decided to do, I trusted Him and I gave my life to JESUS.

I went to sleep that night not knowing if I would ever wake up again.

The next morning I woke up to a miracle. I was feeling better. I sat up for the first time since I was in the hospital. By lunchtime the nurses had me in a chair beside the bed. When I say miracle, I ain’t lying. Even the Doctors were baffled. They couldn’t explain it.

I know what happened. GOD gave me my second chance.

Recovery was long and hard and I still have some issues to this day, but GOD saved me. And even with the issues I still have, I thank Him everyday.

Now, we are going to read from Matthew 13 and you will probably be a bit confused. I promise that it will all make sense by the time I am done.

Matthew 13:1-9

13 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Jesus often used parables when he preached. A parable is a simple story that uses everyday situations to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson.

Jesus did this to teach complex ideas about GOD’S Kingdom and how we should live in a way that was easy to understand, relatable to the listeners life and memorable.

In this parable we see the sower sowing seeds on all types of ground. He sows generously so that he may reap generously as we can see in 2Corinthians 9:6.

Who remembers the story of Zaccheus?

His story is found in the Gospel of Luke 19. Zaccheus was a rich and corrupt tax collector. He was the short man that wanted very badly to see Jesus, so he climbed a Sycamore tree to catch a glance of Jesus as He walked by. Zaccheus was surprised when Jesus called him by name to come down from the tree. That day, after hosting Jesus at his home and hearing the message of Salvation, Zaccheus turned his life over to Christ.

For that tree to have grown to give Zaccheus his opportunity, a seed had to be planted.

God calls each of us to plant seeds, to share the Gospel.

When we obey GOD, we have no idea at the impact He will make.

Take Edward Kimball, for an example. Never heard of him? Rest assured – most people have never heard of him.

Kimball was a Sunday school teacher who not only prayed for the hyper boys in his class but also sought to win each one to the Lord personally.

He decided he would be intentional with every single last one of them. I’m sure there were times he thought about throwing in the towel.

If you have ever taught the Bible to young boys, you know that the experience can often be like herding cats. Volunteering with the youth group has given me a whole new understanding of ministry.