Vincent Yeung—Cambridge, UK

         And He said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come." (Mk 4:26)

The parable of the growing seed in the Gospel of Mark presents a simpler thematic approach to Matthew's more programmatic description of the kingdom of God. However, its straightforward language and vivid imagery effectively illustrate the farmer's labor and watchfulness, the delayed yet spontaneous germination process, and the timely, rapid growth leading to harvest. Together, these elements form a paradigm for those committed to fulfilling Jesus' great commission to make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19).

WHICH SEED WILL SPROUT?

The Bible repeatedly and unequivocally spells out God's will. God desires all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:4). True followers of Jesus, the Son of God, must heed His commission, and go forth to be witnesses to Him to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8). After the first downpouring of the Holy Spirit, the apostle Peter's sermon stirred three thousand souls to gladly accept his message and undergo water baptism (Acts 2:41).

Unfortunately, in our pluralistic and liberal societies today, skepticism is rampant. People are bombarded daily by a plethora of misleading information online, making them wary of absolute truths. At the same time, they are increasingly embracing the ideas of relativism and individualism, resulting in the belief that there is no right or wrong, only personal choice.

As the parable of the sower illustrates, the seed of God's word will fall on many different types of soil, leading to varying results, even among those who are receptive to the gospel (Mt 13:1–23). This context helps us understand the diverse spectrum of truth-seekers who arrive at the True Jesus Church today. Some individuals come to please a friend or relative, are motivated by curiosity, or desire social interaction. Much like the biblical characters who discover great treasure and pearls (Mt 13:44–46), a few among these seekers gladly and immediately sacrifice whatever it takes to obtain the precious truth they find.

However, there are also truth-seekers who attend services regularly and have participated in many evangelistic services, spiritual convocations, and doctrinal seminars. With a good understanding of and frequent exposure to True Jesus Church doctrines, some may even consider themselves part of the church. And yet they are unable to fully embrace the truth and undergo water baptism. How then should we regard these long-term truth-seekers within our midst who have not fully entered the fold?

PERSEVERING TO PRESENT EVERY MAN PERFECT IN CHRIST JESUS

It is not uncommon to find individuals who admire a religion without being an active part of it. The apostles often encountered such people in the synagogue. When Paul preached in the synagogue in Antioch in Pisidia, some Gentiles begged them to return the following Sabbath, and some Jews and devout proselytes were also persuaded (Acts 13:14, 42–43). The term "proselyte" appears three times in Acts (Acts 2:10; 6:5; 13:43), referring to Gentile converts to Judaism who had undergone circumcision. Yet, many other Gentiles accepted the monotheism of Judaism while struggling to fully comply with the law's requirements. References to such devout Gentiles or God-fearing Gentile worshippers are found in Acts (Acts 17:4, 17). For instance, Cornelius was described as "a devout man and one who feared God" (Acts 10:2), and Lydia (Acts 16:14) and Justus (Acts 18:7) were noted as worshippers of God. These people were well-versed in the Old Testament and regularly attended synagogue services.

Paul considered it his responsibility to proclaim God's salvation to the Gentiles. This is why he, and other apostles, did not shy away from warning and teaching every man to present them perfect (Greek: τέλειον; mature, complete) in Christ Jesus. In our context, our ultimate goal is to lead all non-believers to salvation. The responsibility of nurturing our truth-seeking friends until they reach spiritual maturity extends to every member, not just ministers or religious educators. Having received the hope of salvation through our Lord Jesus, it is our duty to edify one another (1 Thess 5:8, 11). The term "one another" encompasses not only church members but also our neighbors (Rom 15:2). In short, we must persist in warning, reminding, teaching, encouraging, and interceding for our friends until they overcome the final barrier preventing them from undergoing the baptism that will cleanse their sins.

Loving Like a Nursing Mother

Parents know how challenging it is to care for babies—patiently tending to them as they develop and grow. This "journey of growth" can be treacherous and eventful. This is especially true for babies born prematurely, who are more likely to face health complications, experience feeding problems, and reach developmental milestones later than their peers. Such unpredictability intensifies the anxiety of parents who had been excitedly awaiting their child's first steps or first word. However, the joy at the end of this journey more than compensates for the sleepless nights, frustration, worry, and hard work.

Paul cherished the brethren as a nursing mother would her own children (1 Thess 2:7). He prayed for the believers unceasingly and was eager to help them grow (Rom 1:9–10). For three years, he warned the Ephesians night and day with tears, urging them to remain vigilant and be ready to receive the inheritance (Acts 20:31–32). Paul was determined to prepare them to be a perfect bride for Jesus (2 Cor 11:2). Likewise, we should consider our truth-seeking friends as our responsibility. We intercede unceasingly and cultivate them until the seed of truth germinates in their hearts, and they come to maturity.

Patient Like a Farmer

The man in the parable of the growing seed watched and waited, then sprang into harvesting action once the grain was ripe (Mk 4:29). Being an experienced farmer, he understood that growth cannot be rushed. His critical responsibilities were to diligently water, weed, and keep the pests away. Similarly, we must patiently toil until Christ is formed in our friends and in believers who are not "fully grown" (Gal 4:19). It is not ours to question when or how God brings growth; our job is just to plant, nurture, and be ready to reap.

Paul emphasizes the centrality of God at work in the preaching of the gospel. Paul planted, Apollos watered, but only God could give the increase (1 Cor 3:6). It was God who added to the church daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:47). God opened Lydia's heart to heed the things spoken by Paul (Acts 16:14). The disciples did not choose Jesus, it was Jesus who chose them (Jn 15:16). No one can come to God unless God first draws them to Himself (Jn 6:44). Even among the myriad of people in this world, we find ourselves meeting truth-seekers willing to come and remain with us. So there must be a purpose for them as well as for us in the mystery of God's salvation plan.

A cursory scan of the Bible may suggest that God's calling and election are arbitrary. Truth-seekers must overcome many barriers before they completely accept the truth. However, those who desire to find God must put aside their prior beliefs and traditions (Mt 9:17), family ties (Lk 14:26) and prejudices (Jn 1:46; 7:52). Those who genuinely seek God would put in the effort, take the message seriously, and examine the doctrine diligently (Acts 17:11). For those who desire to do God's will, God will open their heart to accept the truth (Jn 7:17). The Holy Spirit will be given to those who obey God (Acts 5:32). God opening Lydia's heart was not a case of arbitrary favoritism; God is impartial (Eph 6:9; Col 3:25). Lydia already worshipped God, she exhibited generosity, offered to receive Paul and his company, and provided her house as a gathering place for other believers (Acts 16:15, 40).

Paul recognized that the gospel is not preached by word alone, but by the power of the Holy Spirit and our conviction (1 Thess 1:5). In particular, conviction is a prerequisite for attaining any achievement, whether in education, career, or mastering a skill. Without conviction in our beliefs, we will have little time for God and no motivation to share the gospel. Although it is natural for us to hope that our truth-seeking friends will convert quickly, this may not always align with God's timing. Let us neither doubt nor lose conviction that God is at work. While waiting patiently for God to open the hearts of the truth-seekers, we must also ask God to empower us to continue our preaching efforts and maintain our conviction when facing slow progress or an impasse in evangelism.

Live Out the Doctrine of Christ

At Pentecost, around three thousand people were baptized, and God added to this number daily (Acts 2:43, 47). The scale and spontaneity of this response have not been replicated in our time. It is essential to identify the factors that contributed to this apostolic success. Luke, the author of the Acts of the Apostles, sheds light on this. God worked with the apostolic church because they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship and services. They were of one mind and were together with gladness and sincerity of heart (Acts 2:42–46).

God's abidance as we serve Him is not accomplished solely through words; it requires action. Orthodoxy (the right doctrines) needs to be complemented with orthopraxy (the right action). Proclaiming the perfect doctrine of salvation without good works is sterile; it may come across as hypocritical and lofty self-serving piety. As our truth-seekers become woven into the fabric of the church, our actions and interactions shape their evaluation of our faith. Genuine love and faith (2 Cor 6:6; 1 Tim 1:5) can only be revealed in the long term. The actions accompanying a genuine faith serve as proof of the ministry (2 Cor 9:12–13). Therefore, we are constantly reminded to live out the doctrine of God through good works that are beneficial to others (Tit 2:7, 9–10; 3:8, 14). We must allow others to see that Christ is at work in us and with us. Only when we are one in God and made perfect will the world see Christ manifested in His believers (Jn 17:21–23).

CONCLUSION

The Lord Jesus has warned us that His seed of truth will fall on various types of soils. Some friends may quickly accept God's word and sacrifice everything in exchange for the kingdom of God; others may take a little longer, procrastinating, undecided whether to take the plunge. To present our friends mature before Christ, we must cultivate three essential attributes in ourselves. First, we must have the heart of a nursing mother. This involves dedicating time and effort, with full conviction, to build up these truth-seekers who rely on us. Second, we must embody the heart of the farmer. Our role is to plant seeds, water them, and trust God to make them grow. We also watch attentively, ready to spring into action when the harvest is ripe. Third, we need to reflect the image of Christ, living in true righteousness and holiness (Eph 4:24). By cultivating Christ within ourselves (Gal 4:19), we establish a pattern of good work that adorns our doctrine to be profitable to man. In doing so, we become powerful witnesses for our Lord, not merely through words but with deeds, proving that Christ is present within us and among us.