One of Rachel's favourite Bible studies that we did together was about the difference between the seed and the sod. I had helped her to understand that we were made from dirt and our bodies will return to dirt. However, that dirt is the planting ground for an eternal seed. Farmers don't look for clean dirt when they plant seeds. They don't vacuum all the dirt out of the garden so the seeds don't get dirty. They need the dirt for the seed to grow. In fact, sometimes the dirt isn't dirty enough, so they spread cow manure over the dirt to make it dirtier! They call this rich soil.
When we focus our eyes on "self," we're looking at the dirt. When we focus on
the seed growing in the dirt, we produce fruit! It is so important to understand that the Christian walk is not me becoming perfect; it's Christ growing to perfection in me. There are two verses that sound contradictory in the Bible, and yet they form a complete truth: "I can of mine own self do nothing," and "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Rachel knew the difference between the seed and the sod. She knew that once
the seed began to grow, people would no longer look at the dirt, but instead
focus on the emerging fruit of that seed. She knew she wasn't perfect. But she
realised that God was doing some wonderful things within her.
(Pages 50-51.)
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Quoted from the book:
'Rachel's Tears' by Beth Nimmo and Darrell Scott
ISBN 0 7852 6848 0