“And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.” – Mark 4:20

For the first time in my life, I planted a full garden this past spring. I included fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, zucchini, melons, and strawberries. My favorite has been the tomatoes—whether you consider them a fruit or vegetable, tomatoes are the perfect complement to a meal. I have enjoyed watching the tiny sprouts become full-fledged bushes with little yellow flowers growing into crops. Now, after months of waiting, I am reaping the benefits by having fresh produce at my fingertips.

It is a pleasure to watch things grow. My daughter is nine months old and seems to grow a bit more every day; any time now she will be taking her first steps. It is also fun to watch financial investments grow, or to watch the value of our homes increase. A different kind of reward comes when we look back and see how we have progressed in our ability to do a job well, or have gained expertise in an activity such as music or tennis.

Growth should happen in every good part of our lives. A biologist would say that one of the defining factors of a living thing is its ability to grow. Likewise, if we are alive spiritually, we will naturally grow. And as we grow spiritually, we will naturally bring forth fruit.

There must be a starting place for growth to occur. If I had never planted my garden, I would not be seeing rows of healthy tomatoes today. Spiritually speaking, salvation is when the seeds of truth first spring to life. Then, as we water that seed with God’s Word, our spiritual gardens will grow.

How fulfilling it is to grow and bear fruit in the Gospel! The world seems to be in a drought, and good spiritual food is precious. As we grow spiritually, we are multiplying what is good and true. Let us make certain that our hearts are open, and as we continue to water our lives with God’s Word, we will grow.