Some years ago, I planted a row of sunflower seeds on June 1st, which came up one week later. By July 8th, one of the plants was twenty-four inches tall, growing to forty-two inches the next week, and six feet high the following week.

During this period of growth, one trait in particular attracted my attention. Every day these plants turned to face the sun and followed it from east to west, even on cloudy, overcast days when the sun wasn't visible. In order to grow spiritually, do we not also need to seek daily nourishment from the Son, God's Son, even in the darkest circumstances? We find this in that revelation of Christ—the Word of God.

By August 18th, this sunflower stood erect at twelve feet tall, sporting a large, beautiful flower with the head inside the petals measuring over seventeen inches across. What progress it had made in preparation for the bringing forth of its fruit! How it had drunk of the vital supply of water and taken in the rays from above! The stem was very thick and strong, the leaves huge. Now it was ready to bear the weight of its abundant fruit.

As we think of these things, do we not see parallels to the needs we have if we are to bear fruit for our Lord and Saviour? There are no shortcuts or substitutes for real Christian growth. It is brought about by drinking in the truth and basking in the love and presence of Christ as found in a continual walk and fellowship with Him.

The larger the head grew, and the greater its fruit, the lower it bent to the ground, as if to humbly bear it before others. No longer proudly erect, it now seemed to be bowed before its maker in prayer and worship, while also serving those around with valuable nourishment through its multitude of seeds.

May we, as maturing Christians, be more like this sunflower—the older and more learned we become in the things of Christ, may we be clothed in prayer and humility, displaying the beauty of Christ and sharing His life with the dark and dying world.

One more observation from our sunflower. As the head became larger, it remained facing the east, which suggests to me how the mature Christian living in fellowship with the Lord looks and longs for Him to come again in the air to call His own to be forever with Himself in glory. It is this blessed hope which sustains one in a life of service to God and men.

—Scripture Almanac