Tag: reaping
The joy of sowing and reaping!
Scripture reading for October 19th: John 4, Psalm 59, Proverbs 23
John 4: 31-39 “Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him Who sent Me and to accomplish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that the sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” Many Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony.”
Jesus was a a well in Samaria and His disciples had gone into town in search of food. Jesus has waited there to have a conversation with a Samaritan woman, asking her for a drink of water from the well. He ended up sharing the Gospel with this Woman, revealing that He was the Christ! She ran off to town to tell everyone about Jesus! Meanwhile, the disciples returned, urging Jesus to eat. But Jesus told them He had other food–doing the will of His Father! He pointed out the stream of townspeople coming out to meet Him, likening them to a field, white for harvest! This Samaritan women had become a sower of ‘Good News’ and was reaping eternal rewards! The sower and reaper rejoices together at the harvest!
Psalm 59:9-10 “O my Strength, I will watch for You, for You, O God are my Fortress. My God in His steadfast love will meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for this amazing story told by John about Jesus’ encounter with this sinful woman. In Your steadfast love, You met her and transformed her thinking and destiny. Thank You for doing that for me as well! Help me to see the white harvest fields through Your eyes and to faithfully sow Your Word and experience the joy of seeing You reap an eternal harvest! Amen! Amen!
Proverbs 23:19 “Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way. Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.”
How’s your harvest?
Scripture reading for September 28th: Jeremiah 1-4, Psalm 130, 2nd Corinthians 9
Key Scriptures: 2nd Corinthians 9:6-9 “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”
Paul encouraged the Corinthians to give cheerfully and with purpose. He did not want to shame them or coerce them to give or to manipulate their hearts with human emotions. He did tell them spiritual truth: the law of sowing and reaping determines the harvest. For a sparing harvest, sow sparingly, but for a bountiful harvest, sow bountifully. God gives the increase and will make all grace abound to you in many areas of need in your life. The abounding harvest is more than money, but brings full sufficiency in all things at all times! Amen!
Psalm 130:5 “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His Word I hope; . . .”
Faith confession and prayer: God’s promises are true and bring encouragement and hope. I want an abundant harvest so I will sow generously and cheerfully trusting in Your Word of promised grace!
Jeremiah 1:11-12 “The Word of the Lord came to me saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see an almond branch.” Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My Word to perform it.””