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| The Harvester does Not have to be the Planter |
Verses:
John 4 : 31 - 38
My thoughts about the verses:
For just one moment think of all the things that you get to enjoy in life but did not start. One of the things I am most grateful for is my Church. I wasn't there when it started in fact I wasn't even a thought when the first MCC opened its doors. I have a feeling that the small group that gathered that day in a living room 45 years ago never dreamed of the harvest that they were planting.
I was only one when MCC Louisville had its first bible study and began planting seeds that are still being harvested. Yet, in both of these situations the groups that met were coming together because they needed their own spiritual fruits. Isn't that the same today? Don't we do things that help us grow without considering the harvest that is to come.
This is not true of Jesus. Jesus knew that the harvest would be large. He knew that he was planting the seeds that would be grow and grow. The harvest would be large and need many harvesters. There was no need for more than one planter because Jesus was the very essence of living water that would nourish the seeds planted and make them grow.
The disciples were the seeds planted that day. Along with the disciples each life that Jesus touched that day and in the future would become plants needing harvesting. See the gift was free the nourishment for the soul was everlasting. Anyone who would drink in the living water of Jesus would grow. Those that basked in the sunlight of God would turn into a plant with deep roots. Those that were filled with the fertilizer of the spirit would produce the most awesome of all fruits.
Yet, at times we are all like the disciples. We believe we need more than this to survive. We think it takes the gifts that the world has to make us powerful and important. Jesus's message was not to become planters but to become harvesters. During this time the planter was the owner of the land the one that controlled the seed, water, fertilizer. The harvester was one that just gathered the crops for the owner. In reward they were given parts of the harvest to enjoy.
Just like this group of water lilies. We have an opportunity to see the beauty of the greatest farmer of souls ever. We can glean from the field those that are ready to be harvested. We can reach the unchurched if we so choose. If we do not glean the fields the flowers will fade and their beauty disappear from our sight. Yet, the flowers never lose their beauty in the eyes of the planter because after each flower fades a new pod is ready to bust open with even more beautiful flowers.
My thoughts about the verses:
For just one moment think of all the things that you get to enjoy in life but did not start. One of the things I am most grateful for is my Church. I wasn't there when it started in fact I wasn't even a thought when the first MCC opened its doors. I have a feeling that the small group that gathered that day in a living room 45 years ago never dreamed of the harvest that they were planting.
I was only one when MCC Louisville had its first bible study and began planting seeds that are still being harvested. Yet, in both of these situations the groups that met were coming together because they needed their own spiritual fruits. Isn't that the same today? Don't we do things that help us grow without considering the harvest that is to come.
This is not true of Jesus. Jesus knew that the harvest would be large. He knew that he was planting the seeds that would be grow and grow. The harvest would be large and need many harvesters. There was no need for more than one planter because Jesus was the very essence of living water that would nourish the seeds planted and make them grow.
The disciples were the seeds planted that day. Along with the disciples each life that Jesus touched that day and in the future would become plants needing harvesting. See the gift was free the nourishment for the soul was everlasting. Anyone who would drink in the living water of Jesus would grow. Those that basked in the sunlight of God would turn into a plant with deep roots. Those that were filled with the fertilizer of the spirit would produce the most awesome of all fruits.
Yet, at times we are all like the disciples. We believe we need more than this to survive. We think it takes the gifts that the world has to make us powerful and important. Jesus's message was not to become planters but to become harvesters. During this time the planter was the owner of the land the one that controlled the seed, water, fertilizer. The harvester was one that just gathered the crops for the owner. In reward they were given parts of the harvest to enjoy.
Just like this group of water lilies. We have an opportunity to see the beauty of the greatest farmer of souls ever. We can glean from the field those that are ready to be harvested. We can reach the unchurched if we so choose. If we do not glean the fields the flowers will fade and their beauty disappear from our sight. Yet, the flowers never lose their beauty in the eyes of the planter because after each flower fades a new pod is ready to bust open with even more beautiful flowers.
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| The flower that fades leaves a pod ready to bloom |
Prayer:
Dear God we thank you for your beautiful harvest. We thank you for planting numerous seeds in the field. We thank you for allowing the plants to continue to grow and be reborn over and over again. Dear God we ask that you use us to glean the field. May we truly give you our hearts and souls.
Questions:
Have you been harvested from the field? Do you need to start harvesting the flowers that are in bloom? If you haven't started gleaning the field what is keeping you from doing starting? Is today the day that you accept the call to harvest God's field?
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