May 6

Moments with God, May 6

1 Corinthians 3:6-8 (ESV) 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. Matthew 12:20 (NIV) A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory.

Determined to do a better job with the garden this year, I was removing what little grass remained and the weeks that were encroaching on our bounty. I tilled the ground and began removing anything that was not going to produce something good to eat. I was focused on that task when, as I was pulling up a weed, I accidentally pulled up a plant that had just begun to grow. I said to myself out loud (I do that a lot), “David, be careful! These are tender seeds. Be careful.” As soon I said that, I heard the Holy Spirit say, “That’s right, David.” I had another teaching moment.

I immediately thought of Paul’s words that some plant and others water, but only God can make a seed grow. My statement was aimed at our garden, but the Holy Spirit told me it also applied to the spiritual seeds we plant and water. We need to be careful to tend those “seeds” as they begin to sprout and grow. New believers are just like those seeds; they are very vulnerable as they begin to grow. They need to be watered and fed with the Truth and with the Spirit. When we see a “weed” in their lives, we need to be careful not to be so aggressive that we uproot the tender “reed” along with the “weed.” The scriptures tell us that Jesus will never break a bruised reed. Instead, He loves that reed, remains patient, and tenderly strengthens it. I am thankful that instead of being surrounded by overzealous “gardeners,” I was mentored by patient, kind, patient, understanding, and patient people. They watered and fed me, allowing me to grow until I could see the weeds myself. Let us be careful. These are tender seeds!