The process of harvest fascinates me. In recent weeks I have pulled my car to the side of the road a couple of times to watch the farmer’s amazing machine cut the corn stalks and separate the kernels from the ear. Somewhere in the field there is a truck where that bountiful crop is collected. I am not a farmer but I understand this - no farmer goes to the field where he planted corn expecting to harvest soybeans! A Googel search informed me that a kernel of seed corn produces about 600 kernels at harvest! That’s an amazing ratio, if true.
All of that leads me to ponder the thought of the harvest of my own life’s efforts. What kind of future am I preparing? I (*and you) most certainly are preparing tomorrow with today’s choices. Yes, I know that there are varibles that sometimes obscure the ‘cause and effect’ of life. Just as the farmer deals with storms, floods, drought, pests, and plant disease that effects his crop, we will also have to cope with unexpected circumstances in life, BUT the laws of harvest remain. We are planting the seeds of tomorrow’s harvest today!
We harvest of the seed we plant.
We harvest only after we plant.
We harvest more than we plant.
We harvest in proportion to how much we plant.
Hosea, a preacher in ancient Israel, told the people - "Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you." (Hosea 10:12, NIV)
A person who lives in love,
will find love returned.
A person who serves, will
find himself served.
A person who prioritizes the
things of God, will find life beyond survival.
A person who responds in
faith to the invitation of Jesus, will find eternal life!
God says that His word, His expressed will for us, is like seed. If we invite the Spirit to reveal Him, if we respond with faith and obedience, there is a rich harvest that will surely come. Isaiah was inspired to write of the amazing result of receiving the Word (the counsel and wisdom) of God. “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.” (Isaiah 55:10-13, NIV)
God does not act or speak
without a discernable result in this world! When we engage with His will rather than resisting
Him, there are beautiful results: joy, peace, and abundance!
“So you’ll go out in joy, you’ll be led into a whole and complete life. The
mountains and hills will lead the parade, bursting with song. All the trees of
the forest will join the procession, exuberant with applause. No more thistles,
but giant sequoias, no more thornbushes, but stately pines.”(Isaiah
55:12-13, The Message)
Christ Jesus offers us a life in the Kingdom, restoration to our Father, and a harvest enjoyed only by those who are right with God! Make no mistake. I am not endorsing a prosperity Gospel; that we can create greater wealth, perpetual health, and only bliss with the right kind of faith. That is terribly twisted understanding of the promises of God. I am, however, convinced that we surely do enjoy a harvest in this life and in eternity. The grace of God intervenes to reverse the Curse for us when we receive His offer of salvation. The Spirit of God stands ready to lead us through each day. And, as we are obedient children, we enjoy rich fellowship with our Father. His purpose is to show His grace and goodness to us and to the world around us through us.
Are you receiving the Word?
Are you letting the Spirit lead?
When you do, you are planting the seeds that willl bring a rich and wonderful harvest.
Here is a word from the Word this Monday morning. Read it with faith and sow the seeds of abundance with obedience.
"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." (2 Corinthians 9:8-11, NIV)
(Video of this blog at this link)
____________________
I searched the world but it couldn't fill me
Man's empty praise and treasures that fade
Are never enough
Then You came along and put me back together
And every desire is now satisfied here in Your love
Oh there's nothing better than You
There's nothing better than You
Lord there's nothing
Nothing is better than You
I'm not afraid to show You my weakness
My failures and flaws
Lord You've seen them all
And You still call me friend
'Cause the God of the mountain
Is the God of the valley
There's not a place
Your mercy and grace won't find me again
You turn mourning to dancing
You give beauty for ashes
You turn shame into glory
You're the only one who can
You turn graves into gardens
You turn bones into armies
You turn seas into highways
You're the only one who can
Brandon Lake | Chris Brown | Steven Furtick | Tiffany Hudson
© 2019 Brandon Lake Music; Maverick City Publishing Worldwide; Music by Elevation Worship Publishing; Bethel Music Publishing
CCLI License # 810055
No comments:
Post a Comment