Unexpected Fruit

Bible Reading: Mark 4:13-20

“Mom! Dad!” called Jayden as he raced into the house. “Come quick! I think a watermelon is growing in the backyard!”

“Really?” asked Dad. “That ground out back is so poor and rocky. I wouldn’t think a watermelon could grow there.”

“But there is one!” insisted Jayden. “Come and see.”

“We’ll look later,” said Dad. “Right now we have to get to the homeless shelter or we’ll be late for chapel.” Jayden’s family had agreed to lead the shelter’s evening chapel service once a month.

“Oh, all right,” said Jayden. He went to his room and got his trumpet and sheet music for the songs he would be playing at the shelter.

On the way home a couple of hours later, they discussed the service. “I don’t think anyone was paying attention today,” said Jayden. “I think it was a waste of time for us to go there.”

“Sharing the gospel is never a waste of time,” said Mom. “Someone who doesn’t seem interested may actually be ready to trust Jesus as their Savior.”

As soon as they got home, Jayden persuaded his parents to go look at the watermelon plant. Sure enough, there was a vine with one very small watermelon on it. “This must have grown from some seeds we threw out here last year,” said Jayden.

“I think you’re right,” said Mom. “I’ve thought about planting a garden back here, but I didn’t think this soil was good for growing anything. I guess I was wrong. It looks like one of those seeds fell on ground that was just right for watermelons. If it keeps growing, we’ll get some fruit we didn’t expect.”

“We scattered another kind of seed today—the seed of God’s Word,” said Dad. “Like you said, Jayden, no one at the homeless shelter seemed to pay much attention, but we don’t know the condition of the hearts of those people. It’s possible that the seed we planted there will bring unexpected fruit too.”

“You mean some of those people might still trust in Jesus because of what they heard today?” asked Jayden.

Dad nodded. “Jesus loves those people and died for them, just like He loves and died for us. Let’s pray that God will make the seeds we scattered today grow in their hearts and produce fruit.”

–Nance E. Keyes

How About You?

Do you feel like it’s useless to share the gospel—especially with people who don’t seem interested? The parable of the sower in Mark 4 tells us that the seed of God’s Word falls on many different kinds of soil in people’s hearts. You can’t see what kind of heart-soil anyone has, but keep sharing the good news about Jesus—you never know whose heart is ready to trust in Him.

Today’s Key Verse:
Mark 4:8 Other seed fell on good ground and it grew up, producing fruit. (CSB)

Today’s Key Thought:

Keep spreading God’s Word