He told them another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches. Matthew 13:31-32 NIV

The only plants that grow faster than the Moso bamboo are the weeds in my flower beds! Under the right conditions, the Moso can grow up to 3.3 feet in a single day. Yet that growth comes through stages of dormancy and change as a seed. Even with rapid growth from 40 to 90 feet, it will still take 5 to 7 years to reach maturity for use.

Though the growth you can see is spectacular, the real miracle takes place underground. As it shoots up rapidly, it aggressively sends out a vast network of underground runners that can extend 15 feet or more in a single season.

“We want things to happen at the speed of light, but in the kingdom of God, things generally happen at the speed of a seed. News flash: Seeds still grow at the speed of Eden. They have to take root before they can bear fruit.” (Mark Batterson from Gradually Then Suddenly p181).

It doesn’t matter how young or old we are; we like to see things happen quickly, especially when it comes to our lives. We enjoy the 3.3 feet of spiritual growth per day, but we also learn to wait for the runners to spread out, which gives us strength and usefulness. “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant.” (Robert Louis Stevenson).

The Moso bamboo’s use has often been described as “nearly endless” (Master Garden Products). From the bamboo harvest come products for building houses, flooring and decking, furniture, kitchenware, textiles, paper products, musical instruments, skateboards, environmental products, and the list goes on.

God tends to plant seeds rather than transplant full-grown plants. Our spiritual growth, like a seed, takes time to germinate before it sends out the first visible shoot, yet the variety of impact could be described as nearly endless.

God planted a seed of greatness in Abraham’s heart that seemed to make no sense given his circumstances. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” (Gen 12:2). Abraham was already 75, had no living heirs, and left his home for parts unknown. This was not exactly the way to build a great nation, yet God did.

God planted a seed of freedom for Israel in Moses’ heart. The problem: Moses got ahead of God. “Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand… When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian.” (Exodus 2:12, 15). It took years for his soul to gain the spiritual maturity to hear God say, “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” (Ex 3:10). The once-young and brash leader had matured enough for God to use him.

God planted a seed of hope in a refugee camp. The once-great nation of Israel was left beaten and destroyed, with the people living in exile. The future did not look very bright until God planted that seed in their hearts: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11). It was a seed that sent out runners, sustaining them for 70 years.

God planted the greatest seed ever, still growing toward maturity and sending out runners throughout the world – a seed of redemption and of his forever presence. That seed came as a baby, born in a manger, fully human and fully God. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1,14).

God is planting seeds and will continue to do so until the final chapter. “The church needs writers, performers, artists, speakers, politicians, businessmen, and workers in every craft and trade. I envision a whole generation of roaring lambs who will lay claim to these careers with the same vigor and commitment that sent men like Hudson Taylor to China.” (Bob Briner, Roaring Lambs: A Gentle Plan to Radically Change Your World).

What seed has God planted in your soul? Is it a new seed of vision to move; a seed to go to the mission field; a seed to break a lifestyle issue that has held you captive for years; or a seed of change in how you do life? We can rejoice and seek to experience God in every moment, place, and circumstance of every day. “There are no unsacred places; only sacred places and desecrated places.” (Wendell Berry).

God is great!

A weekly devotional thought offering encouragement, hope, and purpose