In God’s design, a requirement for growth and fruitfulness is sunshine. Sunshine is vital for plants because it is a source of energy that plants need that creates food for growth and survival. Without sunshine, plants will not grow strong and may not grow at all. In fact, if two seeds are in the exact same environment (soil, water, etc.), but one seed is given sunlight and the other is given no sunlight – the difference is that one will grow and one will not grow. The difference between fruitfulness and death is, in part, found in sunshine!
The amazing thing about sunshine is that it has nothing to do with the seed itself. Sunshine is an external input. A seed cannot create sunshine, a seed needs to be in a position to receive sunshine.
When we look at our spiritual lives of fruitfulness, sunshine is like external input into our lives. When we think of how LifeSpring phrases it – it is having fathers and mothers in our lives – Kingdom parents. These are external inputs that guide us and lead us to higher grounds, to places we want to go. Kingdom parents are people who are not trying to get something out of us, but simply give us what we need to succeed!
As I look at the fathers and mothers in my own life, I can see that God has sent so many people to help Karyne and I be all that God has called us to be. My own parents in our everyday lives, Alvin & Patricia as pastors, Perry & Catherine in our business, Jerry & Dorothy in our family and marriage, and even Adrian & Sherene in our ministry calling. All these fathers and mothers have been external inputs into our lives that have called us to higher places – helping us every step of the way.
When we look at fruitfulness, sunshine is vital. When we look at our spiritual lives, Kingdom parents are vital. Sunshine does not create you; it activates you.
LifeSpring has the privilege of having many Kingdom parents in the house. My challenge to the church family is two-fold; ensure you are in a position to receive from Kingdom parents (sunshine) but also be a Kingdom parent to others. We are blessed to be a blessing – keep on Kingdom Parenting! It is essential in fruitfulness.