One year, about 25 years ago, I decided I would grow some watermelons. I bought a packet of seeds, prepared part of our back yard, mixing some sand into the Iowa dirt.
I planted the seeds according to the packet instructions and checked on my “crop” every day. I was excited to see the plants poke their way to the sunlight. Little by little the vines grew, and then the little melons started appearing. So cool!
A real good friend of mine named Mick, who’s now in Heaven, used to tease me about my melon patch. He knew a lot about gardening and always had a wonderful crop. And because I got a late start with my planting, he didn’t think the watermelons would develop enough to harvest before the first freeze.
But I was determined. I examined the plants and pinched off all but four of the little melons.
I waited.
Toward the end of September, on a Sunday Evening after church, Mick asked to see my melons. We lived just a half block from the church, so we all walked back to our house. We opened the gate to the back yard, played with our dog Joey for a short bit…
…and then I saw it. A piece of cardboard with the scripture, “According to your faith be it done unto you” written on it. It was on a wooden stake, poked into the ground, right next to a great big watermelon THAT MICK AND HIS FAMILY had placed in my garden. What a surprise!
Mick was also surprised. Because next to his great big watermelon lay 4 softball sized melons.
About a week later we ate those melons, and they were the reddest, sweetest, juiciest melons I had ever cut into.
According to my faith…
Faith? Yep, faith. Believing and receiving, according to God’s principles revealed through His Word.
Matthew tells the story of two blind men, determined to make their way to Jesus, determined to be healed.
“When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” And their eyes were opened.” (Matthew 9:27-30 NKJV)
Notice, the blind men FOLLOWED Him. Not just up and down the dusty road, but into the house! Not easy for a blind man to do.
Jesus asked them, “Do you REALLY believe I can heal your eyes? Yes? Okay, your faith has made it possible.”
When you KNOW something is true, don’t let anything keep you from enjoying the fruit of that truth! Do what you have to do in order to guard your faith. People may kid you, humiliate you, ignore you, and think you’re a true blue idiot.
I KNEW the power of sowing and reaping. I expected watermelons to grow. The blind men KNEW the Son of David was the answer for their blindness.
Mary KNEW God would perform the word the angel had told her. She received His word just as good earth receives seed sown into it. “Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:37-38 NKJV).
What do you KNOW? What are you planting? What word are you receiving?
According to your faith…
By the way, the picture above is the sign Mick made for me those many years ago.
Jan Grace 