I had a very dear friend who worked with me and retired back in 2020. I met up with her not long after she retired, and she gave me a gift - a flowerpot filled with daffodils. After a few days, when the flowers died, I planted the bulbs along the side of my house. Every year, I take a picture and send it to my sweet friend. I am amazed at how much these daffodils multiply each year. They started out with maybe two flower blooms on each bulb that I planted.
Just last week, I took a picture to send to Kathy, my friend. There were up to eight or nine blooms on each bulb that was planted. Each year, the plants have spread out and multiplied with more blooms. I went out in my backyard this weekend and was just admiring the flowers and how much they had grown in just five short years since they were planted. I thought about the process and growth of the flowers and God reminded me that it can be a lot like our lives.
Let me explain. First of all, the flowers were a gift. They were a gift given to me in love from a precious friend. God offers us the greatest gift, and it is freely given in love. John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." This gift was given in love, offers us forgiveness of our sins, and assures us of eternal life.
This is a gift that we, as believers, should definitely share with others. We actually have a responsibility to share this incredible gift in love with others. It was a gift that we did nothing to deserve but was freely given to us, so we should tell others about this gift. We should constantly think about ways to be an example others can follow and encourage those we encounter to pursue a relationship with the greatest gift-giver of all.
I received the sweet gift of flowers, but to keep enjoying them, I had to plant them. The bulbs I planted were nourished by rain and sun. Then endured the cold in the winter and the extreme heat in the summer. In the same manner, we, at times, have to do the same. Just because you are a believer doesn't mean your life will never have any trials or disappointments. The difference is we are able to endure the stress, heartache, hurt, and sickness because deep down we have planted the truth in our life. We know that our circumstances do not determine the goodness of God. Our God is always good.
We should continually strive to plant and sow truth into others' lives so they, too, can experience the goodness of God. Our responsibility as believers is to plant seeds by telling others about the greatest gift given in love by God. We may not always see the growth, but we still plant the seeds. There may be seeds of encouragement we plant. We could also plant seeds of kindness, faith, empathy, love, joy, and so many other things. We need to plant any seed that might lead someone else to Jesus.
The only way to encourage growth and to see transformation is to plant the seeds. Galatians 6:9 says "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Continually plant the seeds.
After I planted the daffodil bulbs, the blooms have multiplied every year. What started out as one daffodil has turned into more and more. If we encourage others to accept the free gift given in love, then continually plant the seeds of truth into their lives, we will see lives changed. We will see believers multiply and added to the Kingdom when seeds are planted with a gift given in love.
We can share with others about the wonderful free gift. We can plant the seeds of truth and love, but we leave the results and timing of multiplying to God . The definition of multiply is "increase or cause to increase greatly in number or quantity." Just like my daffodils seem to multiply each year, the same could be true of believers added to the Kingdom of God if we just tell others about the greatest gift you could ever receive. God has sacrificed everything to give us the gift of salvation, but it is our job to share with others so they might hear and accept that gift.
I love the fact that my daffodils are resilient. They have continued to bloom and multiply each year despite the season and weather changes. They remind me of the strength and hope God offers even when life is tough. As the blooms continue to grow, there is more color and beauty in my backyard. Can you just imagine the joy in the face of our Savior every time someone accepts His free gift? James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." Think about this: If no one gave the gift, there would be nothing to plant, and if there is nothing to plant, there is no increase or multiplication of anyone or anything. No salvation, no planting of seeds, and no changed lives.
I choose to give the gift, plant the seeds, and watch as God's beautiful flowers multiply. I just love daffodils!
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Jill Johnson, a staff member at the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, finds spiritual applications in her everyday experiences as a wife, mother, grandmother and Georgian. She is available to speak to your church's women's gatherings. Reach her at jjohnson@gabaptist.org.
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