Growing up on my Grandparents farm in Ohio there is a large pasture with trees separating our house for my grandparent’s house. It was one of my favorite places to play. The pasture was full of trees and I especially loved the big oak trees. Early autumn was always a special time of year when the acorns would begin to fall from the oaks. Acorns are different in appearance according to the type of Oak tree, but where I come from they all have a cap on them. As a kid this made them especially fun. The cap is not actually part of the acorn, it’s really just a protective covering; you see the acorn is a seed for an Oak tree.
As a kid while I gathered the acorns and separated the caps from the seed had you asked me what I was holding in my hand I would have described it as I just did in the paragraph above. And I would’ve been right. But I would not have giving you the entire picture, you see each acorn is so much more than just a seed, it’s a potential oak tree. In truth each acorn is much more than just a potential oak tree, it is a potential forest.
The Potential Principle Defined
A seed is the most powerful of all elements in God’s creation. The seed is a picture of the definition of potential. And just as each seed has within it the code of potential, God has put a code of potential in everything and everyone. He did not you create you without potential; he created you with a code that points to your purpose and destiny as a masterpiece. And as with all potential comes responsibility to be faithful to His process of development. You see an acorn unplanted becomes useless.
Understanding Your “Potential” Code
Do you see and recognize that the seed of potential that God has placed within you is a code for all that He created you to be? Consider your gifts, talents, and personality. None of them are an accident, but intentionally placed within you for His purpose and plan. They are a code that points toward your potential. Consider even your experiences. While God has not necessarily created all of your experiences, He will never waste them if we will allow Him to use them for our potential. “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28, NLT)
Owning Responsibility
The planting and cultivation of your potential is a responsibility that God has given you and you alone. What one thing can you do today to be in cultivating the potential of the life as a masterpiece God has given you? “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10