BACK AT THE BARN WITH JESUS

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?

SOWING SEEDS FOR THE HARVEST

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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The Parable of the Sower (Luke 8:4-15) is a powerful story, illustrating the way the Gospel is received. 

When the Gospel is preached, some people hear it but then Satan takes it away before it can be believed. When others hear the Gospel, they receive it but do not work at it to ensure that the seed takes root. So the tender faith does not withstand the tests of life. But the Gospel received by people who hear it, retain it, nurture it and grow their relationship with Jesus, produces a crop. A bounty. A harvest.

What about Jesus’ command that we be workers for his spiritual harvest? Matthew 9:37:

“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Is there a connection between these two passages for our own lives?

We all want to be the good soil of Jesus’ parable. We also want to be the workers in God’s harvest. Sometimes we forget that we need to be workers in our own spiritual harvest.

God has sown the seed and we have received the good news. Still, we must continue to water our faith with the living water of Christ. We must allow Him to pull our weeds and burn our thorns. We must help Him place sparkling strips of divine foil in our fields to keep away the pests that could destroy our faith.

We must persevere in order to produce an abundant harvest in our own lives for Him.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for sowing your seeds of faith in my life. Please make good soil for those who don’t yet know you. Help me water their soil and nurture them. Help me also tend my own faith so that your harvest is abundant. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Who do you know that needs you to pray for them to be part of God’s harvest? How do you need to cultivate your own soil?