By Pastor Steve Nickodemus
God’s Miracle!
“So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.”
1 Corinthians 3:7 English Standard Version
The strawberries were washed and sliced and poured into bags and put into the freezer. What a great harvest! Think of all that went into that moment of harvest! Plowing, disking, cultivating, planting, fertilizing, hoeing, spraying, irrigating, picking – the amount of labor and time that goes into the finished product is mind boggling.
But with all of that work and with all of the people and machinery and resources that went into the ultimate harvest, only God gave the growth. The cycle of seeds and sprouts and growth and fruit is truly a miracle of God. God creates and provides and grows the plants and the harvest!
And so it is with the miracle of faith growing in people. Many people may have nurtured you in your spiritual growth. Parents, grandparents, teachers, pastors, faithful friends and encouragers all may have contributed prayers and words and teaching and examples and sacrifices and love, but it is only God who gives the growth. The miracle of baptism and being born again into a new and living hope and relationship with Jesus is God’s work. He created us, he redeemed us, he sanctifies us, he loves us. No one can explain how the Spirit works faith in our hearts through the Word of God. No one can duplicate what Jesus does in the believer!
Jesus said this to Nicodemus in John 3:8, “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Thank you, Lord, for all who poured their love and support and prayers in bringing me to faith in you. But thank you, Holy Spirit, that you in a completely miraculous and undeserved way grew faith into my heart and still continues to grow me further in fellowship with Jesus our Lord! Amen!
Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church Colorado Springs, Colorado
