I’ve tried my hand at gardening, and it hasn’t turned out well! There are many steps in the process to get a beautiful flower or editable food. I haven’t had the patience to learn every step of the way - from the right dirt to use, planting seeds the right time of the year, how to feed the plant, how often to water, when or what to prune.
Understandably, Jesus uses seeds & planting as an analogy for our partnership in sharing the Gospel. Only He knows the whole process and big picture! We’re called to spread the seed, water the soil, and He will make things grow.
I (Paul) planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. -1 Corinthians 3:6-7
Our most recent guest on the Ask About My Faith podcast, Matt Roussin, shares some stories on how he is planting seeds by sharing his faith, being generous and praying for people!
Matt is a creative entrepreneur who is known as an adventurer and he takes his faith on the road with him. He’ll share stories of praying for people at work and while on a road trip across the USA. 2 Peter 1:5-7 informed so much of his adventure with starting his business and dedicating the first week of entrepreneurship to the Lord.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. - 2 Peter 1:5-7
Planting Seeds Not Knowing the End of the Story
It’s human nature to want to see our impact and get to share a big testimony. A lot of the time, you’ll pray for a co-workers injury and not see the healing or share your faith with someone who doesn’t immediately accept Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Often, the best testimony is one of obedience! As a small piece of the puzzle, God can use us to meet a need in someone’s life or give a word of encouragement. On Matt’s road trip, he had 3 encounters that didn’t end with salvation prayers, but were seeds planted in those individual’s lives.
Related Post: 4 Crucial Tips for Sharing the Gospel
Three Stories, One Road Trip
On his road trip dedicated to the Lord, Matt was hiking in the Garden of the Gods and ran into a group of guys who were recreationally smoking. Matt struck up a conversation with one guy and offered encouragement that there is MORE to life than partying and the journey with God is a good one. Seeds planted.
On his way to the grocery store after driving all day, Matt offered a hot meal to a hitchhiker and spent the meal getting to know him and sharing about God’s love. Matt met a few practical needs - giving him money, a gas card, and food - while sharing his faith. Seeds planted.
Another encounter he had was with a police officer after being pulled over. Matt told the officer about his Faith Journey Road Trip and got to pray with the officer for protection. Seeds planted.
“Each day I had an encounter with & for Him, it felt like it was a living word! …We underestimate the daily encounter.”
Related Post: 3 Reasons Why Your Faith Story Matters
Do You Want to Plant Seeds?
Matt’s advice is to overcome your hesitations and “get to a point where you're not afraid to share your faith and you want to share! The journey starts within - start having those conversations with the Lord to build up your own faith first.”
Sharing your faith comes from a place of overflowing. “Be honest with yourself and take steps to work on your relationship with God.”
Related Post: 7 Simple Ways to Pray Throughout the Day
