This post is part of the Christian Writers blog chain. Our theme for October is “harvest.” Please see the links to the right and read what my friends have to say about harvest.
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Scripture is filled with references to planting, sowing seeds, and harvest. They refer to the bounty of God and the culmination of His plan for a spiritual harvest and bringing the faithful to Him at the end of the age.
Many scriptures reference the pain of growing crops and harvesting (Luke 19:21; Galatians 6:7; Mark 4:29; Galatians 6:9; Matthew 13:30; Matthew 9:37; John 4:35).
What I love about Psalm 126:5-6 is the focus on the joy of the harvest.
Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.
This reminds me that although the process of planting the seed and caring for it is hard, not only will the harvest bring bounty, food for sustenance and nourishment; it also brings joy and thanksgiving.
In our walk with Jesus sometimes there is pain as He shows us our need to change. He may gently reach down and pluck at our spiritual weeds or he may take a sickle to them. There may also be pain in their burning. But the ultimate harvest brings with it spiritual bounty. It sustains and nourishes us eternally and brings us everlasting joy.
As we go out carrying seed to sow, we can carry Jesus’ good seed and then carry our sheaves home with us. Those sheaves of wheat get made into bread—a reminder of Jesus’ body broken for us.
One day we’ll get to head back to the barn with Jesus. There may be heavenly fiddles playing; golden-clad slippers tapping and King David leading us in a line dance with Jesus. A heavenly hoe-down for sure.
Until then, let’s keep sowing and planting; watering and weeding. And keeping Psalms 126 in mind that the culmination will mean songs of joy. With heaven’s amazing acoustics, all that singing will sound good even if you can’t carry a tune.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for seeds that can be sown and cared for, nurtured and watered by you. Help the seeds you sow in us grow to maturity so that your spiritual harvest will be bountiful and glorifying to you. Let us remain part of your eternal harvest. Amen.
WHAT ABOUT YOU? Do you have a favorite “harvest” verse in scripture?
2 comments:
oh my goodness, a "heavenly hoe-down"? you're too funny! My favorite harvest verse is Galatians 6:9 - "let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
Yes, Galatians is a good one for keeping on keeping on.
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