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Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Galations 6:7–8

What are the seeds of the Spirit?  

My suburban garden is a source of joy—not the difference between a meal and hunger. It’s hard for me to understand the role seeds play as a source of life the way the Galatians would have understood it 2000 years ago. But, when visiting our church partners in Vuhehli, South Africa, I began to better comprehend what the apostle Paul wrote in today’s passage.  

Vuhehli is in an increasingly arid part of the world, and the success of any seed planted there depends upon a regular supply of water. Like the Living Water Christ promised to the woman at the well, having a well is the beginning of the blessing. The seeds packed during Celebration of Hope—our tiny “seeds of the Spirit”—produced enough in Vuhehli to feed the families of the church and provide food for baby chicks. The chicks grew to be a source of eggs as well as fertilizer for the garden. The produce became so abundant that it was dehydrated and stored to share with neighbors and beyond. What began as a water well and some seeds in the churchyard became an after-school tutoring program and feeding center for a whole community.   

The ripples of blessings went out from these seeds of hope—our seeds of the Spirit—and kept reaching families even during COVID when larger supply chains fell through. The vegetables on hand, grown from the seeds, made the difference between a healthy meal and hunger.  

Each of us is given seeds of the Spirit—gifts and talents— by our loving Creator, and they multiply when fed by the Living Water of Jesus, doing more than we even expect. We live them out through every little act of kindness and love, and their impact reaches and blesses beyond our expectations. We may not even get to see it in our lifetime! Those acts may feel short-lived or take longer to germinate than we expected. But, more often than not, our seeds are quietly growing underneath the surface. When we plant seeds of the Spirit in our daily lives, we can trust the God of Living Water to provide for their flourishing well beyond what we can see this side of heaven.

Next Steps

• COH Week 2: Hear from some of our global partners and Shawn Williams. Our partner from Jordan will lead us in a special time of Communion.