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Our Daily Bread Ministries May 14 Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 19-21; John 4:1-30 Good Soil in God Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown. Luke 8:8 READ Luke 8:4-8, 11-15 In late spring each year, I plant cucumber seeds in our garden. The seeds produce leaves quickly, but it takes time to see the fruit. In fact, one summer after I watered the seeds and waited, I questioned whether I’d get any cucumbers at all. I thought, Did I put too many seeds too close together, or was the ground not warm enough when I’d planted them? But one day, I spotted a green bulb. The next week, I spotted another. Then another. Within a few weeks, we moved from only vines to almost enough fruit to make salad for a week. Spiritual growth looks like that sometimes. We don’t always see the things we’ve been praying for: patience, self-control, being gentle and loving (see Galatians 5:22-23). But if we ask God to help us create the conditions needed for growth—prayer, studying the Scriptures, worship, serving others—the Holy Spirit will produce the growth. This is the crux of the parable Jesus shares in Luke 8: “A farmer went out to sow his seed” (v. 5). “The birds ate” some of the seeds that fell on the path (v. 5). Others landed on rocky ground, where they received no moisture and withered (v. 6). Some more fell among thorns and were choked before they could grow (v. 7). But the seed that was planted on good soil yielded a crop that was “a hundred times more than was sown” (v. 8). As God helps us, let’s cultivate “good soil” and grow in Him. By Katara Patton REFLECT & PRAY How is God helping you cultivate “good soil”? Where have you observed growth in your life? Master Gardener, please help me produce good fruit from good soil. Amen.