Daily text, Sunday, October 2. 2016

[Queen Esther]

 

On its own the ground bears fruit gradually.—Mark 4:28.

http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/dt/r1/lp-e/2016/10/2

When an individual progresses to the point that he is motivated to serve God, he bears fruit in the sense that he dedicates his life to Jehovah and gets baptized. Jehovah is the one who makes the truth grow in the hearts of “rightly disposed” ones. (Acts 13:48; 1 Cor. 3:7) We plant and water, but we do not control the growth. We cannot force it or speed it up. Just like the man in Jesus’ illustration of the sower who sleeps, we do not know how the growth takes place. (Mark 4:27) It often goes unnoticed by us as we go about our normal, daily activities. In time, though, the Kingdom seed may bear fruit. The new disciple then joins us in the harvest work, and we benefit from his assistance. (John 4:36-38) Dedication, however, is something that must spring from a willing heart motivated by love for God. Anything less would not be acceptable to Jehovah.—Ps. 51:12; 54:6; 110:3. w14 12/15 2:4-6