Growing to Harvest

  

I enjoyed some delicious New Jersey sweet corn last night. A lot of work went into getting that ear of corn to my table – someone prepared the field, someone planted the seed, another cultivated. Rain and sunshine came from God Himself, then there was the one who harvested it. I just ate it with gratefulness to all those who labored to provide me with that delectable bit of nourishment.

What is the harvest, the fruit of the Good News that is planted in your life?  Jesus taught about 4 kinds of soils that represent possible responses to His Word. "Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.” (Mark 4:3-8, NIV)  

Some are hard-hearted.
Others hear eagerly, often in a time of desperation, but then do not cultivate the truth and the Truth does not grow.  
Some let life get too full of other things and the Word Seed’s growth is stunted.

Some are like fertile rich soil where God’s Gospel produces
a rich harvest that blesses them and others.

Jesus explained His story to the disciples who were puzzled by it. He said "The seed that fell on the hard path represents those who hear the message, but then Satan comes at once and takes it away from them. The rocky soil represents those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But like young plants in such soil, their roots don’t go very deep. At first they get along fine, but they wilt as soon as they have problems or are persecuted because they believe the word. The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the Good News, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for nice things, so no crop is produced. But the good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s message and produce a huge harvest—thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted.” (Mark 4:15-20, NLT)

That third warning stands out to me, a particularly applicable issue for our lives in this time. Christ’s goodness, the call of being His follower, can be supplanted by ‘cares,’ the worries of trying to deal with all the stresses of life.  We who live in the world’s richest society are not above the ‘lure of wealth.’  Who among us does not believe at some level that life would be better if only we had more resources or that we would feel more secure if our bank account held more money?  The wonderful Truth that we are God’s children, that our best life is not found in our stuff or our place can be lost in the noise of this present world that tells us we need more, bigger, better than we have.

Are you receiving the Gospel – the truth that Christ has reconciled you to your Creator and secured your eternal life - with joy, so that your life is full of God’s goodness?  The Holy Spirit conceives the truth in us, a ‘once and done’ moment, in which new life, the gift of God, brings conversion. Jesus told an inquirer it was like being ‘born again.’ (John 3)  It is also true that the Gospel is received each day, God’s life and love flourishing in us, making us people who grow a harvest of the Spirit – “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5: 22)

When you find yourself confused by the cascade of words thrown at you, Christ Jesus remains True.

Trust Him. Anchor your life in Him, not in your own goodness, your morality, your achievements – but in Him. 

Let the Seed grow to produce the harvest God intends in you.

Take some time to prayerfully meditate on these words of life, a word from the Word. "For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our city in heaven, which is yet to come. With Jesus’ help, let us continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by proclaiming the glory of his name. Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:14-16, NLT)

(Video of this blog at this link)

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How Rich Am I

How rich I am since Jesus came my way
Redeemed my soul and turned my night to day
How very rich how very rich I am

Such peace and joy I never knew before
And countless blessings from His boundless Store
How very rich how very rich I am

There's a greater glory in a sunset
A brighter twinkle in a star
There's much more promise in a rainbow
More music in a singing bird by far
All things have changed my eyes once blind can see
The whole wide world is now a symphony
And with all this Heav'n is my destiny
How rich I am

John W. Peterson

© 1956.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered!

 

I have purchased several homes in my lifetime. The process is somewhat complex – negotiation, coming to terms, making a contract, signing the documents, getting them approved by proper authorities, and finally delivering them at closing to finish the deal. Only then can the purchaser take possession of the house she selected for purchase some weeks or months prior. From experience I can attest to that great feeling of walking into a house and breathing a sigh of relief at the end of the long process.  “It’s finally ours!”

Let’s talk about our heavenly home, our eternal destiny, our great salvation. In short, it’s ‘signed, sealed, and ready to be delivered!’  A passage in Hebrews seems to be a garble of tenses, but the Spirit inspired it to remind us that our right relationship with God is a done deal.  When Jesus Christ, our High Priest, went to the Cross, He  "offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." (Hebrews 10:12-15, NIV)  He completed the work that assures us of God’s acceptance.  Does that mean there is nothing for us to do, to experience? 

The rest of the passage reminds us that though He has ‘made us perfect’ (complete) there remains a process of becoming holy, useful and pleasing to God, that is being worked out in us every day.  There is no need for apprehension at that fact. It is true that if we focus on ourselves we will see how much is left to do, the flaws, failures, and sins. But, we remember that even though He completed the work of salvation our experience on this side of Heaven very much incomplete.  

 So we must look to the Cross for our hope and trust fully.   The covenant is made.  God says “This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts so they will understand them, and I will write them on their minds so they will obey them.” Then he adds, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” Now when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices." (Hebrews 10:16-18, NLT)

Christian, do you trust the LORD with your life, your soul, your destiny?  

Do not fall into the trap of attempting to play ‘Let’s Make A Deal’ with God, hoping that by being good enough, praying enough, saying enough religious things – that you can find His acceptance and gain His favor. You cannot buy God’s love. You cannot earn a place at His table.  You trust Him, believing His Word, and He ‘credits’ your account.   

The model of that faith is Abraham. "If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness." (Romans 4:2-5, NIV)

What freedom we find when that revelation gains traction in our spirit.  No, it does not release us from responsibility to live a holy life. His grace does not exempt us from the harvest of acts of disobedience.  That is why we continue to work out the implications of His salvation in daily life.  But, at the foundation of our relationship with God is faith, not hard work! 

Today, whether you are 4, 14, 54, or 84 – remember to trust Christ Jesus. Lean into eternity, fully assured that this life is but the prologue of that  "real and eternal life, more and better life” (John 10:10, The Message) which has been signed, sealed, and ready to be delivered – paid in full by the gift of grace through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  We believe, God loves, and He becomes, as He promised Abraham, "your shield, your very great reward.” (Genesis 15:1, NIV)

The word from the Word reviews the passage I quoted previously.  Meditate on this, with faith taking the assurance given here. "But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." (Hebrews 10:12-14, NIV)

(Video of this blog at this link)

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The Solid Rock

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus' name

On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

When darkness veils His lovely face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In ev'ry high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil

His oath His covenant His blood
Support me in the whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay

When He shall come with trumpet sound
O may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless to stand before the throne

 

William Batchelder Bradbury

© Words: Public Domain

 

 

A Good Diet

Most people agree that one of the biggest problems with American health is our diet!  A long time ago the issue for humans was finding enough food. In 2022 for most of us it is choosing the right food. A couple of years ago, I had reached a life-time high in my weight and decided that it was time to lose about 20 pounds.  I found an online diet plan that did not just focus on calories. The designers of the plan invested much in changing the way I thought about the food I ate! 

The program taught me to recognize eating patterns, empty calories, times when I turned to food even though I was not hungry. I also learned to think about the quality of the food I put in my mouth, realizing that 400 calories is not always the same when it comes to actually satisfying my appetite. I control my weight not primarily by denial but by the choice to eat differently and for better health.

The principle holds for our spirituality, too. Many Christians are weak, full of doubts and fears, inconsistent in faith in large part because of what they feed their mind and heart or what they fail to consume. 

We will never enjoy a vibrant faith if we live on a steady diet of cultural ‘junk food.’  What plays in the background in your home will most certainly enter your brain and change your thoughts. We all have found ourselves unconsciously repeating a line from a song we heard on our streaming device or in our earbuds, and realized that we are actually saying something completely at odds with our values. Video streams at us from multiple sources these days. On average in 2020, U.S. adults spent over 3.5 hours per day watching television and 1.75 hours per day watching digital video on devices.  I fairly certain most of that viewing is not encouraging the best in human behavior.

I am not suggesting that the only thing we can read, listen to, or watch are “Christian” books, The Message on SiriusXM, or the Hallmark channel. However, we must be discerning and choose our brain food well. A steady diet of materialism, sex, violence, and content that ignores the reality of God will change our thoughts in a negative way.

This is a spiritual principle that is universal:
Right thinking always precedes right living.

 Jesus alludes to that fact.  He says “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6: 43, 45-46, NIV) We will think clearly, with a view of life that is godly and true only if we choose the right brain food. And, if we are deceived in our thinking, we will not live in a way that leads to an abundant, Spiritually fruitful life.

Change takes time.  If pizza, potato chips, hotdogs, fries, and cheeseburgers are a person’s steady diet for 25 years, there will be a discernible effect on their physical health. Turning things around will require re-training their taste to appreciate healthier fare, so they will continue to consume a diet that is balanced and full of healthful foods. One week on a good diet won’t change a thing!  A real understanding of the quality of food, the way we consume our food, will lead us to control our weight, lower our cholesterol levels, and find ourselves with fewer collateral health issues. 

Likewise, in our spiritual lives, a burst of concern lasting only a few days or weeks, will not produce the desired effect! A holy life, filled with the fruit of the Spirit, will only emerge as we continue to strengthen our heart and mind with the Truth over time. Consistent intake of Scripture, regular meditation, daily prayer, giving ourselves in service, learning generosity of heart, and such disciplines of the Spirit will lead us to a vibrant faith walk.

Here’s a word from the Word that points the way to peace (that is, soundness and wholeness) with God. "Finally, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:8-9, NKJV)

(Video of this blog at this link)

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Is He Worthy

(A wonderful song of hope by Andrew Peterson)

Do you feel the world is broken
We do
Do you feel the shadows deepen
We do
But do you know that all the dark
Won't stop the light from getting through
We do
Do you wish that you could see it all made new
We do

Is all creation groaning
It is
Is a new creation coming
It is
Is the glory of the Lord
To be the light within our midst
It is
Is it good that we remind ourselves of this
It is

Is anyone worthy
Is anyone whole
Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll
The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave
He is David's Root
And the Lamb who died to ransom the slave
Is He worthy
Is He worthy
Of all blessing and honor and glory
Is He worthy of this
He is

Does the Father truly love us
He does
Does the Spirit move among us
He does
And does Jesus our Messiah
Hold forever those He loves
He does
Does our God intend to dwell again with us
He does

 

Is anyone worthy
Is anyone whole
Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll
The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave
He is David's Root
And the Lamb who died to ransom the slave
From ev'ry people and tribe every nation and tongue
He has made us a kingdom and priests
To God to reign with the Son
Is He worthy
Is He worthy
Of all blessing and honor and glory
Is He worthy
Is He worthy
Is He worthy of this
He is

 

Is He worthy
Is He worthy
He is
He is

 

Andrew Peterson | Ben Shive

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