How many of you are feeling the gardening itch? We’ve been cooped up inside for the winter, teased by temperatures that felt like the precursor to Spring, only to be hit a few days later with Winter’s blast. When those warmer temperatures were upon us, you felt the pressing urge to get outside and do something. Maybe you began planning your garden, whether it be veggies or flowers. If so, you’ll love what is celebrated the last Saturday of January each year – and you’re only a few days behind so you can still participate.
The last Saturday of January is National Seed Swap Day. “The first annual Washington Gardener Magazine Seed Exchange was held in Washington, DC, on January 26, 2006. Kathy Jentz, the editor/publisher of the magazine had the last Saturday of January named an official holiday and National Seed Swap Day was born. After that event’s success, seed swaps in other cities across the nation have joined in celebrating the day each year on (or around) the last Saturday in January.”1
I admit, this devotional opening is really speaking to gardeners. For those who don’t enjoy the agricultural and horticultural scene, you may wonder why someone would want to swap seeds. For those who love to plant and watch things grow, you understand the fun of trying something new, adding to your burgeoning crop, and sharing what’s worked for you. Flower gardeners probably enjoy this the most, sharing beautiful varieties and species of flowers.
Seed swapping is something that happens in religion. Notice I didn’t say Christianity. Religion and religious beliefs encompass 100% of our world. It is estimated that there are over 4,200 different religions in the world.2 Christianity is one of those world religions with nearly 2.3 billion adherents. The definition of Christianity for these statistics is simply those who adhere to Christian-y beliefs and has nothing to do with the Biblical definition of true Christianity.
Through the years, I’ve come across many religious seed swappers. They trade a little bit of this and a little bit of that. They plant those seeds in their lives and create religious hybrids. Before you know it, there is a new religious variety blooming on the horizon.
Jesus told a parable in Luke 8:4-8. The passage begins with, “And when much people
were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable: (5) A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. (6) And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. (7) And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. (8) And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
If anyone heard this parable and started scratching their heads as to what it meant, Jesus clarified the metaphors. He began by saying, “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.” (Luke 8:11) There is no seed swapping when it comes to the kingdom of God. There is only one seed, it is the Word of God, that Word is absolute truth (John 17:17), and it says clearly in John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
As Christians, THIS is the seed we get to sow. No other seed will do and no other seed is permitted. Paul told the church of Galatia, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be 
accursed. (9) As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8-9) We are to preach (sow) the Gospel (seed). To preach anything else is to sow tares in the field. This is the work of an enemy, not someone who loves and cares for people. (Matthew 13)
If you want to swap gazania, marigold, morning glory, or safflower seeds, have fun! But when it comes to the spiritual things of life, only one seed can be planted and when we do, credit belongs only to the Lord. Remember Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 3:6, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.”
1https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/national-seed-swap-day-last-saturday-in-january
2https://statisticsanddata.org/data/most-popular-religions-in-the-world-2025/#google_vignette
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