Did you know acts of kindness and love can be planted as seeds? Seedtime and harvest means that whatever thought, word, or deed you sow—good or bad—it will reap results. Simply put, what goes around comes around. When you release the love of God into the lives of others, God is released toward them! The “do-good” seed is an act of love you extend to another person who has done you wrong. This is also a way in which you can participate in agapé love or the God-kind of love, which is unconditional.

The love of God does not only act when it is convenient or according to emotions. Instead, it loves those who are unlovable and extends mercy toward others, regardless of what they may have done to you. If there is someone in your life who is particularly difficult to deal with, this holiday season is the perfect time to show them unconditional love. You may have had conflicts with certain people in the past, but you can still extend an invitation of love to them. Invite them to dinner or give a gift. Those who have offended you are the best candidates to add their names to the top of your Christmas list!

First Corinthians 13 in The Message Translation of the Bible gives a vivid illustration of selfless love. Agapé love never gives up on anyone. It endures all things and believes the best about everyone. It is not irritated or fretful, and it does not insist on its on way. It does not keep score of another’s sins or pay attention to a wrong suffered.

If you find yourself giving attention to something someone did to you to the point that it is affecting your life, it is time to let it go. I have been wronged by many people and there were times I immediately wanted to retaliate in some way. However, God always told me to bless them. It was not easy, but I did it because the seed I sowed through unconditional love and forgiveness reflected the love God has toward me. If I had retaliated with hate, I would have received the same harvest. Everything in the Kingdom of God works by this principle.

Love is the most powerful seed you can sow into the life of another person. In Luke 6, Jesus teaches the Law of Love. He says to love your enemies and to do good to people that hate you. He says to pray for those who despitefully use you (Luke 6:27, 28). Jesus wanted us to understand the importance of loving the seemingly unlovable.

God is not requiring anything of us that He has not already done. When He saw mankind in a sinful state, He sowed the ultimate “do-good” seed—Jesus—as an expression of His love for us. Even though we all deserved damnation, God gave His most valuable and precious possession to a sinful world. And now he is reaping the harvest of countless sons and daughters!

Sow the “do-good” seed, and from it, you will reap a harvest that will affect every area of your life. Share His love through acts of kindness, and allow Him to overtake you with His blessings!

— Creflo A. Dollar