February 12, 2026
Growing Plants - Part 4
Luke 8:8
02/12/2026
8 ``And some fell into good soil and grew and
yielded a hundredfold.'' As he said these things,
he called out, ``He who has ears to hear, let him
hear.'' (ESV)
On Sunday we prayed:
O God, the strength of all who put their trust in You,
mercifully grant that by Your power we may be defended
against all adversity.
Jesus told His disciples about the sower who planted the
seed of God's Word. ``And some fell into good soil and grew and
yielded a hundredfold.'' Faith in Jesus Christ is bound to bring
forth the fruits of good works.
How are these fruits of good works an answer to the Collect,
the prayer of the Church? How do good works defend against all
adversity?
The fruits of faith are not simply the things we do to help
others. Yes, visiting the sick, helping the poor, feeding the
hungry are certainly good works. But faith brings more than
showing love to our neighbors.
Saint Paul wrote to the congregation in Galatia:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
self-control; against such things there is no law.[1]
These fruits of the Spirit are also good works which flow
from faith and trust in God's rich grace and mercy. At times God
removes the adversity of life. At times God uses the adversity
of life to strengthen our faith. He gives us the hope of life
everlasting, the assurance that even the most difficult trials
cannot separate us from His love.
May our Lord grant us faith which bears the fruits of love,
hope, patience, and faithfulness even as we trust in Him. Amen.
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1. Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)