Matt. 9:37-38 AMP 37 Then He said to to His disciples, "The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord of the harvest to force out and thrust laborers into His harvest." Those of you who know me personally are aware that I am not an outdoorsy type person. I prefer being comfortable-whether that is in air conditioning or heat. Well, this week, the Lord moved me out of my comfort zone and into a flower bed. Small as it may be, I still did not like the concept of getting my hands (and nails) dirty. However, the Lord spoke to me as I muddled through this trial. He said, "I have given all of my children a flower garden to prepare for me. It is made up of many different flowers. Some grow easily and don't require much care. Others take years before they bloom. Still others don't bloom at all. But you must take the time to care for all of them." Matt 13:3-9 NKJV says: 3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold a sower went out to sow. 4 As he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" Who do you think the sower is? It's not God, because anything that God plants, grows. The garden belongs to God, but He has left us in charge to care for it. The flowers represent unsaved individuals, whether they are in our church, job, neighborhood, or family, etc., they all belong to our garden. We have been given the charge to sow into our gardens with prayer and fasting (*1 Thes. 5:17). We water our gardens by sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. We weed and prune our gardens by reproving, rebuking, and exhorting with longsuffering and doctrine (*2 Tim. 4:2,& *Mark 4:29). Why do we need to "waste our time" on those flowers that don't seem to be growing? Because we don't know which ones will eventually produce or yield a crop (Matt. 13: 8 above). Remember, the bible says that some will spring up real fast, but because their roots aren't deep enough, they will wither away. We have to nurture all of our flowers, instead of only focusing on the ones with the pretty blooms. They might just wither away and disappoint you. Also, we are all tending the same garden. So if a flower doesn't bloom in your lifetime or you move away or something, don't worry. God will send another laborer into your field. So, I'm still not a nature person, but I am willing to get down and dirty for God. Are you harvesting your garden? You don't have to do it alone. 1 Cor 3:6-9 NKJV says: 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. I hope you enjoyed reading the word of God in a new light. Have a Happy Wednesday! God Bless, Min. Tommy & Sis. Shatika Gray Scripture References NKJV 1 Thess 5:14-18 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 2 Tim. 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convice, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. Mark 4:29 But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come." |
| Harvesting Apr. 21, 2004 |