Planting Spiritual Seeds

Grow Your Fruits By Growing Others

Spring has arrived in the northern hemisphere, and with it comes one of the most beloved seasons of the year. The grass grows green, the sun lingers longer in the sky, and a renewed sense of energy fills the air. Spring is not only a time for planting physical crops but also a fitting season to reflect on the spiritual seeds we are called to sow.

In Matthew 5:16, Jesus commands us to let our light shine before others so that they may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven. But what does it look like to put that into practice? One powerful answer comes from Matthew 4:19, where Jesus calls out to His disciples: "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." This passage reminds us that evangelism flows naturally from discipleship. As we follow Christ, He equips and empowers us to draw others toward Him. The warmer months, when people are more active and social, present a natural and welcome opportunity to engage those around us with the gospel.

Yet evangelism can feel daunting. We live in an age where digital communication has largely replaced face-to-face conversation, and a climate of political division can make sharing one's faith feel risky or even confrontational. If you find yourself hesitating, take comfort in the words of Jesus in John 15:18: "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you." The One who was without sin was rejected and crucified, and we should not expect the world to always receive the gospel warmly. Even so, we are called to share it faithfully.

Scripture makes this calling unmistakably clear. In Romans 10:14–15, 17, Paul writes:

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" … Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Sharing the gospel is a divine commission, and it blesses the one who shares just as much as the one who hears. Engaging others with the gospel will reveal where your own knowledge and faith need to grow. It will show you, in real and tangible ways, how much you trust God. Rather than striving to have all the right words, come to God in prayer and ask Him to provide the words, the verses, and the insight into that person's life that only He can supply.

Finally, Jesus reminds us in Matthew 7:16–24 that genuine faith is known by its fruit:

By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit… Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire… Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

Bearing fruit is the evidence of a heart that is truly aligned with God. This spring, let us commit to planting seeds: in conversations with neighbors, in words of encouragement to strangers, and in boldly and lovingly sharing the hope we have in Christ. The harvest belongs to God, and our calling is simply to be faithful.