20160123 The Seed is Good

The Seed is Good

Matthew 13:18-23 "Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: (19) The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don't understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. (20) The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. (21) But since they don't have deep roots, they don't last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God's word. (22) The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God's word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. (23) The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God's word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!"

Please note that the seed is good. It does what it is meant to do. All but that which fell on the foot path sprouted. When we share the Gospel we cannot know what kind of soil in which it lands. We do not know the hearts of other men and women. We barely know our own hearts. But we can be assured that what we share will accomplish the Father’s purpose.

Isaiah 55:8-11 "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD. "And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. (9) For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts. (10) "The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. (11) It is the same with My word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. (Emphasis mine.)

God has a plan for His word, for every time we share our faith. Our job is to share, to spread the word, the seed, if you will. And we are to do this sincerely and as we do there is a promise of harvest. Psalms 126:5-6 Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.  (6)  They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.

One Christian group I belong to has a saying, “Talk to God about your friend before you talk to your friend about God.” This is good advice to prepare our own hearts and hopefully to prepare our friend’s heart to receive. But once we have shared the Good News then we must trust God to do with it what He will.

Back to the “snatched away” seed: In my yard we have several little garden areas. We are pretty specific about what we plant in each one. We have noticed, however, that random plants pop up from time to time. Plants we did not place. Of course the wind carries seeds, but also birds carry seeds to unexpected destinations… unexpected by us.

My Point: We may share our faith with someone and it seems they completely missed it and maybe even rejected the Good News. Keep in mind, your job is to share your faith. That seed, even though it may be snatched from that person may well land in another garden of fertile soil.

One more thing, some people are evangelists. They have a special gifting for sharing the Good News and they often see many come to Christ. That does not exclude any of us from sharing our faith. Nor should we compare ourselves with others in this matter. Our Lord Jesus Christ gets all the praise, honor and glory for every soul that is saved. Revelation 5:12 And they sang in a mighty chorus: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing."

Father in heaven, may we be found faithful in telling others the Good News of Jesus, both with our words and our actions. Grant that the seed we sow finds some good soil and produces a harvest for Your glory. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!

20151007 GREAT HARVEST

GREAT HARVEST

Matthew 9:36-38 When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  (37)  He said to His disciples, "The harvest is great, but the workers are few. (38) So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more workers into His fields."

The compassion of Christ is evident in that He pays attention to those around Him. In the verse immediately preceding this it is told that He traveled all over that area preaching the kingdom and healing all manner of illness. In His traveling He sees the crowds of people wandering aimlessly with no one to lead them. They are like sheep without a shepherd. This makes them easy targets for wolves, lions, false prophets and charlatans.

Jesus is in human form. In His earthly ministry He is imprisoned by time and space like us. There is a limit to how much He can do at any given time. Keep in mind, in this form He is teaching us how to live. We humans wear ourselves out trying to fit 25 hours of work into a 24 hour day. Jesus could have said, “Look at all the work out there. You guys are going to have to work a lot faster and a lot harder.” But He didn’t say that. He told them to pray for more laborers.

In Short:

1.  There is a lot of work out there.

2.  You can’t do it all so pray for more laborers.

3.  There is someone in charge of the harvest and that someone is not you.

In the next chapter Jesus sends the apostles out to do some work. So He is not saying, “Just sit back and pray for others to do all the work.” I think at the heart of this is, Pray, Do your best, Trust God for the rest.

Father in heaven, thank You that Jesus saw the sheep and their needs. Thank You that You see… You see us… You see all those around who are in need. Please raise up and send out more workers to lead the sheep. And give us clear instruction as to what work we are to do and where we are to apply ourselves. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!