Sew those seeds and watch the Kingdom grow!

One of my favorite memories from the time living in Kentucky involves the creation of food plots. Now, if you’re not into hunting, especially deer hunting, you might find the term “food plot” a bit puzzling. Let me share a bit about it.

Our family had access to a sprawling piece of land, complete with a creek winding through it. It was once a 100-acre lake, and over the years, the silt from that lake enriched the surrounding lands, making them incredibly fertile. After the dam was removed, the area transformed; lush trees and a variety of plants began sprouting, covering the landscape.

To prepare this land for our family’s food plots for deer and turkey, we brought in heavy excavating equipment. Can you imagine the sight? Acres of trees coming down, making way for something new! Once we cleared the land, we would sow seeds—primarily clover seeds, along with other blends designed to attract wildlife.

The fertility of the soil worked in our favor, and the crops grew quickly. It was fascinating to see how the seeds took root and thrived. Technically, we “sewed” them into the ground, but the seed did all the hard work of growing!

This personal experience brings me to one of my favorite parables in the Gospels: the Parable of the Soils. If you’re not familiar, it’s recounted in Matthew, Mark, and Luke and presents a vivid picture of the Kingdom of God. Did you know that Jesus mentioned the Kingdom of God a staggering 126 times throughout the Gospels? Clearly, it’s an important concept, but what does it genuinely mean?

I appreciate the definition that describes the Kingdom as God’s people living in God’s place under God’s rule and blessing. Simple yet profound, right? As we move forward, you’ll often hear discussions about us striving to become a Kingdom-focused community at Baptist Children’s Homes.

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus tells us to pray for “Your Kingdom come.” This mindset can radically reshape our approach—both personally and corporately—so that we actively pursue the manifestation of God’s Kingdom among ourselves and the people we serve. This focus naturally aligns us with supporting local churches, which are central to God’s plan for expanding His Kingdom on Earth.

When we adopt this Kingdom-focused perspective, something remarkable happens. God starts to move in ways we might not have anticipated. I often think of a quote from Hudson Taylor, a missionary in China for more than fifty years:

“God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supplies.”

Now that’s a principle worth living by, isn’t it?

Luke 8:18 states,

“Take care then how you hear, for the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks he has will be taken away.”

Many people reference this passage when discussing money, but if we examine the context, especially in verses 4 through 16, it becomes evident that it relates more closely to the seeds being sewn.

So, here’s a thought: What does it mean to be “given more”? Looking at verses 5–8 of this chapter, we see that the seeds fall onto four types of soil. When we view verse 18 through this lens, it’s clear that the fertile soil—much like the land where we cultivated the food plots—is where the real growth happens. The other soil types may receive seeds, but they fail to thrive due to obstacles like distractions.

Think about it: just as birds, rocks, and thorns hinder seed growth, we also face distractions that prevent us from fully embracing biblical truths. Often, we hear God’s Word, but we might let our focus drift away. We might be preoccupied, leading us to miss out on what God is specifically trying to teach us or how He’s directing us.

To be that fertile soil, we must truly engage with God’s Word. When we hear it, read it, and let it take root in our hearts, transformation starts to happen. It influences our behavior, reshaping our actions and thoughts. The more we apply God’s truths practically, the more they multiply in our lives and within our community. It’s a beautiful cycle!

As we consider our work throughout Baptist Children’s Homes, our primary goal is to cultivate fertile soil in the hearts of everyone involved—staff, trustees, ministry partners, and those we serve. Isn’t it exciting to think about living on mission together? We have this incredible opportunity to reach out to our communities, mobilizing church members for Kingdom work across North Carolina.

Jesus prayed for all of us, the future believers, in John 17:21, saying:

“That they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in me, and I in You, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that You have sent me.”

The essence of unity is pivotal as we work towards making Jesus known. The Gospel is at stake, and it’s in our collective efforts where we truly shine as “one.” So, let’s reflect on how we can contribute to this Kingdom-focused vision. In doing so, we’ll not only make a difference in our lives but also in the lives of those we encounter.

Embracing this journey together is where the real impact lies—let’s sew those seeds and watch the Kingdom grow!

Written by David Melber, Chief Executive Officer