A Daily Devotion for Wednesday, October 8
- ontrakk
- Oct 8
- 2 min read
Matthew 13:18-23
“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
John 12:24
“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”
We talked about this just last night in our Transformers group. Sharing one’s faith, or sharing the gospel message in any way can be intimidating. I loved how today’s writer talked about his dried pepper seeds being tiny and paper thin, blowing around on his porch. But those that landed in the good soil of his garden produced healthy plants. We never know how a small act of kindness, a smile, or a word of encouragement may take root in another. God gives us all of the tools we need, and puts people in our paths for a reason.
Holy Lord, help me to drop a seed where it may grow. I may not know when it happens, but I want to become more and more comfortable spreading your love this way. I am yours, lead me, Lord. Amen
Becky, transforming
Matthew 13:18-23 John 12:24
There are many references in the Bible to gardens and crops and many seem to be relatable. Today I thought of my own garden and how each type of plant has different requirements to grow. Some like the sun, some like shade, some prefer dry soil, others a more moist environment, some are heavy feeders, and some require very little feeding. It is a constant challenge to figure out what conditions will help them thrive. Part of gardening is when there is failure, start over and try again until you have the right combination of needs met. People are the same way in how they receive/accept the Word. We have to try to figure out wha…
Matthew 13:18-23. John 12:24
Today's story reminded me of my Milkweed plants. Long considered a nuisance and a weed, it is now coveted in an effort to help the Monarch Butterfly population. All my garden friends hope to grow some. The plant's ability to self seed is almost legend. Inside a pod are hundreds of seeds each attached to a fluff of fibers that get carried on the wind. Those that find good soil continue the life cycle. As we have discussed faith sharing lately, I hope to be the soil that grows the seed of your word to pass on to others.
Prayer: Gracious God, we have so much to learn from the natural world you have created. …
Daily devotions
Wednesday, October 8th, 2025
The miracle of a seed
(Focus: new faith communities
John 12:24
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
I grew up in the country ,not far from where I live today. We were a large family and having a vegetable garden was very necessary. I loved planting seeds because the process of seeing seeds transform into living plants that produce vegetables has always amazed me. To this day I continue to have both a vegetable and perennial garden. I have learned through many attempts and failures of trying to plant lupine seeds that…
John 12:24 In this season of life, my thoughts occasionally drift into legacy mode. Will what I leave behind include fertile seeds that produce a crop that will in turn yield even more fertile seeds? We Boomers have seemed helpless in the face of watching Milennials and GenX turn their backs on the Church. Well the pendulum is swinging, and GenZ is showing an openness to spiritual things in response to the nihilism and hopelessness that envelops the generations before them. There are many exceptions, of course, but I think this is a fair generalization of the trends we have seen over the last fifty years. In this is an opportunity to plant seeds that find good soil even if so…