Freely Speaking Audio Devotion

Welcome to Freely Speaking, an OHSOFREE devotional ministry where we share our hearts and trust God for transformation.

Today’s devotion was written by Marge Webb.

“And he who reaps receives wages and gathers fruit for eternal life; that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together” (John 4:36 NKJV).

The first spring after we married, Jeff and I planted a yard full of beautiful flowers. I must confess I didn’t know the difference between a petunia and a pansy, but my friend at work lived on a farm and gave me a variety of flowers. She explained how to plant each flower, and which ones needed shade or sun. I learned so much, and the yard looked pretty.

The next spring, I was 3 or 4 months pregnant, throwing up with morning sickness at various times of day, struggling to get to work, and caring nothing about planting. The yard was bare, and that was the end of my planting days. Jeff took up the mantle a few years later and now loves gardening.

There are many references in the Bible to gardening. The entire building of man’s relationship to God begins in a garden. Jesus speaks about being a vine into which we should be grafted. The above verse from John talks about sowing seeds and reaping a harvest.

My favorite is a parable in Matthew chapter 13 describing how seeds should and should not be sown to produce a good crop. If we sow in healthy soil, free from rocks and thorns, and if we sow at the proper depth, we will reap a good harvest. When the disciples asked Jesus why he spoke in parables, he explained that they would not understand his teachings if he didn’t tell stories.  

Jesus was obviously a master teacher. Jesus goes on in Matthew 13 to quote from Isaiah because many of Isaiah’s prophecies were fulfilled through Jesus' presence on earth. His parable of sowing seed taught His disciples then and teaches us now to hide God’s word deep in our hearts so that when trials come, God’s truth will help us survive and thrive.

In what ways are you blooming this spring, and what is God teaching you?

Thank you for joining us today. To learn more about OhSoFree Ministries, please visit us at www.ohsofreeministries.com.