“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” — 1 Corinthians 3:6

>> Sign up here for Sports Spectrum devotionals sent right to your email inbox <<

James Franklin was among the first high-profile college football coaches fired this year after Penn State lost three straight games. Though the Nittany Lions had a lot of success during his tenure, they didn’t win any championships. Other notable pink slips have been given to Brian Kelly at LSU, Billy Napier at Florida, Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State, Sam Pittman at Arkansas, Deshaun Foster at UCLA, Brent Pry at Virginia Tech and Trent Bray at Oregon State.

Coaching has never been an easy profession, but the pressure to win has increased dramatically in recent years. If a coach endures, he must focus on planting the seeds of good character in the lives of his players since he doesn’t know how long he will be able to work with them. When life lessons are taught, those important truths endure after he’s gone.

Seeds are one of the main sources of life and health for animals and people. Our vegetables and fruits grow up from seeds to become delicious food. As Jesus walked beside fields in Galilee, He compared putting seed in the soil to putting Scripture in our hearts and minds. As seeds are a necessity to produce food, the Bible is essential for life now and for eternity. Therefore, Jesus emphasized the importance of receiving God’s Word and not rejecting those priceless truths. “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11).

Jesus was describing four different outcomes when seeds are spread over a field. He said some fall by the wayside and opportunities are missed because a person doesn’t benefit from the message. “Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved” (Luke 8:12). In other words, some people walk away unchanged and we hope and pray they have more time to hear the life-changing message of the Gospel. Others are like rocky soil where plants can’t thrive, and then a third group is too distracted with things of the world like a field full of thorns and weeds.

As Jesus finished His story, He said the last group actually received the message with tender hearts like soft ground plowed up and ready to produce a good crop. “But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop” (Luke 8:15). If we experience rejection when we deliver God’s Word, it’s best for us to keep on planting the seeds, just as a farmer or gardener who grows something throughout the year. Though we don’t know which seeds will take root, we know that only planted seeds may make a difference.

Therefore, let’s be God’s busy seed planters. Those spiritual seeds bring forth wonderful fruit when sowed in prayer and love. Remember God’s command to share the spiritual seeds all over the world: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

When we get weary, let’s remember the great value of each soul and keep on scattering seeds like Jesus and the apostles until we see the Lord. We shouldn’t let anyone or anything discourage us from distributing the precious seeds everywhere, trusting that God will bring forth fruit.

— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia

>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him <<

>> Subscribe to Sports Spectrum Magazine for more devotionals and stories where sports and faith connect <<

>> Dive more into God’s Word with Sports Spectrum through the YouVersion Bible App <<

If you would like to submit a devotional, please email all submissions to
devotionals@sportsspectrum.com