Miracle-Gro

By Jonathan Kindberg

Of late I have been quite desirous for something equivalent to a spiritual miracle-gro: something you could give people that promised easy, fast, and healthy growth in discipleship. And aren’t there a hundred small group resources kits, discipleship how-to manuals, and self-help books that promise just that?

In the evangelical sub-culture we love to highlight Damascus Road type conversions (quick and dramatic), but rarely the slow, gradual, often hidden and yet just as radical transformations and conversions that happen for many ( or most?) in people’s lives.

At Iglesia we haven’t had any of the former and only a couple of the latter. Some times I loose heart and patience. “Are people ever going to change?’ I think.  ”I’ve been preaching the gospel to (fill in the blank) for 8 months now and they still don’t get it!?”  Sometimes it feels like I sow some seeds and water and pull out weeds and some more seeds and water some more and still no sprout. But even just typing that makes me realize my impatience. I know of missionaries in the Middle East that have been doing ministry for decades without visible fruit.

There is no such thing as spiritual miracle-gro. God brings the growth, in his time. Meanwhile, all we are called to do is to be faithful and obedient…and to pray for patience.

1 Corinthians 3:5-9: ⁵ After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. ⁶ I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. ⁷ It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. ⁸ The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. ⁹ For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.