The growth process - Mark 3-4

I'm not much of a farmer. I really don't know how things grow. But these two chapters are very much about growth. Jesus is talking to them and demonstrating the power of His Word to change things. In 4:26-29 we read about the ears of corn growing in stages. Once the seed gets in the ground it produces first the blade. It says it "then" produces the head and "then" the mature grain in the head. Jesus is telling them that producing fruit in the life of a believer is a process. The growth doesn't look the same for everyone but there is growth and there is fruit. We don't always produce fruit in the "mature" grain stage right away. Of course, our fellow believers expect a full blade of corn right away. But that is not God's process. Next week in the next chapter we will see what happens to the wild man of Gerasene. When you read the story you can see how God is slowly changing his life until others come to discover his new calm state (Mark 5:15). Don't get me wrong, salvation happens in an instant. But the process of bearing fruit takes on a growth cycle Iike seed in the ground (4:1-20). We are to allow God's Word to take root in faith and He will produce fruit in our lives. Relax and believe in His Word. Fruit will be produced as God's word takes root in our faith. Others might not see our fruit on their time table but God is producing it on His.