I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
1 Cor. 3:6-7
It’s often hard to notice fruit as you are serving in ministry, especially in worship ministry. When you don’t sense people worshipping with you, it can make leading much more difficult.
However, as Nia Anderson shares in her forty day devotional “Behind The Worship,” you must continue in sheer obedience doing what God called you to do.
You never know how God is at work in the hearts of those who hear. And we know we can’t change people. We don’t have the power to transform lives – we’re just intruments of God working as we stay close to him and in tune to his leading.
But that doesn’t mean we aren’t part of the process. This scripture teaches us that some of us as leaders plant the seed and some of us water the seed, but it’s God who makes it grow.
Though it may seem crazy, the ones who plant and water are just doing the small things – God is, who does the true work in the hearts of people!
Of course, one of the blessings in life is seeing God at work in someone’s life and feeling like you played a role as a witness, leader, inspiration or mentor.
But don’t get discouraged.
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Some seeds stay underground a long time before ever sprouting. In these situations you may never see the sprouting of the seed planted.
Other seeds sprout quickly but take forever to bloom. Celebrate what you can, but know that God’s timing is perfect. Who knows what other encounters need to happen for the seed to truly be able to bloom.
Stay focused on your call and your goal – be a seed planter. Be a waterer.
Then pray, trust and wait for God to move – growing those seeds and changing lives. There’s a balance of action and waiting. We plant, we water, we pray, we watch and we wait.
Next time you are in front – leading the church in worship – think about how you are planting seeds of faith into those in the congregation. It starts with a heart to serve – a humility to know that it’s not about you – but it’s God who will make it grow.
