One of the joys of Springtime for me is to go to one of the box stores like Home Depot and buy bedding plants for my hanging baskets and pots.
Notice I said nothing about buying seed packets or fertilizer... Long ago I gave up on flower beds and starting plants from seed. I am much too lazy and impatient to spend time with sowing, weeding, planting and so on.
The instant results of seeing the plants blooming in the baskets and pots are what I look forward to and take joy in.
This reminds me of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians where he speaks about faith in Chapter 3, verse 6: "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it but God made it grow." I am like Apollos who takes over after the seed is planted.
Probably most things in life are accomplished by a group effort. And over time... Our part may be small but each part is important to the whole. And then it must be left to God to be completed.
Paul planted the seed of faith in Corinth, but in time Paul had to leave because he was needed elsewhere. The nurturing of that faith was left to Apollos, but in the end, it took God's grace to make the people's faith grow.
We are reminded that we are a community of believers who take joy in seeing our faith flower. We thank God for the gift He has given us. The seed may have been planted long ago, but it required the example and nurturing of others to help it come to fruition.
Image Source Saunders Brothers
