Multiplication

“And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain…” (Mark 4:8a, ESV).

I received this message from a young Albanian physician I had not seen for many years: “Hello, brother. As I am reading your book (which I borrowed from my brother’s wife). I cannot help but thank you for your mission in Albania. In March 2016, I came to the Lord in one of the conferences in Durres. That led to my mom, her mom, my brother, my cousin, my father, my other cousin coming to Christ!”

As I learned more, it became clear I had not been the one who led her to Christ, but I had been present as part of the team. What amazes me about her story is the beautiful way God works if we just show up. There is an insightful parable in the book of Mark where Jesus describes the dynamics of evangelism.

“And he said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come’” (Mark 4:26-29, ESV).

“He knows not how…” “Produces by itself…”

I had very little to do with actually bringing this young physician to Christ. I just showed up year after year where God had placed me. I scattered the seed by being an authentic and vocal follower of Christ. As the Scripture puts it, “by itself” the soil produced grain—totally the work of the Holy Spirit. In fact, the power of transforming any heart comes from God’s Spirit alone. We get no credit, but we do get to show up, to be authentic, to speak the truth in love. And then, sometimes we get to see God’s great work of multiplication, as in this young physician’s life.

Jesus put it this way, “But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold” (Mark 4:20, ESV).

Dear Father,

Thank you for your great power and presence as you redeem your world. Help me to be faithful in being where you want me to be and saying what you want me to say.

Amen