Mensa Otabil - The Principle of the Seed
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Genesis 1, verse 12: «And the Earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the fruit tree that yields fruit whose seed is in itself according to its kind.» And God saw that it was good.
Today, we are exploring the principle of the seed that is within us. God created the first fruit trees for us; that’s what the passage says. Within each fruit tree, there is fruit, and within each fruit, there is seed. So God is signaling to us that He has done part of the work for us by starting the process. But if we want to have more trees, then the seed within the fruits on the fruit tree must be planted. The significant thing to note about the seed is that it is within; it is not outside. So He says, «the fruit tree whose seed is within itself.» This principle helps us to discover what is needed for us to be fruitful in life. If we are to be fruitful in life, something we do must make us fruitful. But where does it come from? What is the seed?
In agricultural terms, the seed is a unit of reproduction; it is capable of producing another plant. For example, if you have an orange, you have the fruit; you eat the fruit, but there will be seed. If you want another orange, you don’t continue eating the fruit; you have to take the seed out and go plant it. The seed is bundled with the fruit; it’s within itself, so you don’t have to go too far to find it. That is in agricultural terms, but that word seed is also used in a metaphor that reminds us of something else, and we use it to describe the potential that God has placed within us.
So you take your life as the fruit, and within you, God has planted a seed-a potential. God created you as the fruit, but He has given you something within yourself that you can pick out and use to be fruitful; that is called your potential. The seed is the source. When we say it’s the source, we mean it is where everything begins. Life starts from a seed — whether it’s an egg that needs to be fertilized, a seed that needs to be planted, or an idea that needs to be used. In agriculture, we plant a seed when we want to do something in this world; we plant an idea.
The seed is the source. The seed is undeveloped capacity; it is that which you must be but which you are not yet. It is something God wants you to become that you haven’t yet become, but it is inside you. So wherever you are, inside you is something you must become that you haven’t become. Some of us have been able to discover that seed that lies inside of us and have used it productively, but some have not discovered it at all, and some have discovered some and have not discovered others. So whatever you want to be-whether a doctor, an engineer, or a pastor-the capacity to be that is not outside of you; it’s always inside of you. God plants the seed within you, so you must learn to discover the seed.
The seed is always small and can easily be overlooked. So God says we should be fruitful; He has planted us in a fruitful Earth. How do we become fruitful? He has given us something within us that allows us to be fruitful, and inside each one of us, as you listen to me, there is some potential in you that you’re yet to discover. I pray God will help you to take out that seed and plant it to become fruitful. Let’s pray. Say with me: «Heavenly Father, I know You have placed the seed of my fruitfulness inside me. Help me to cultivate it to the fullest. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.»