John, The Love of God
It takes all kinds of people to reach all kinds of people. Some of us sow the seed of God’s love, some harvest the rewards of that seed sown. We must work together, to keep at it, to sow seeds of The Way back to God even when it seems useless. We never know where the seeds will fall, mature and grow. We just trust and obey.
There was a man who came to church where Randy was the pastor years ago. He was a good man but had not professed Christ as Savior and Lord. How did we know? He told us. He said he just wasn’t ready. But he continued to come to church every other Sunday. He helped with the yard work at church. He came to dinners. He loved the people. We loved Him. We loved on him. He loved us. After nine years, Randy and I left that ministry for another church. About two months after we left, the new pastor who took our place reaped the harvest of our beloved soul. Were we disappointed? NO, our friend was saved. His spiritual address was now changed forever!
The Sower, The Harvester, hand in hand are triumphant!
The witness of the Samaritan woman caused a whole village to hear it for themselves…”We’re no longer taking this on your say-so. We’ve heard it for ourselves and know it for sure. He’s the Savior of the world!”
John 4, The Message
It’s Harvest Time
31 In the meantime, the disciples pressed him, “Rabbi, eat. Aren’t you going to eat?”
32 He told them, “I have food to eat you know nothing about.”
33 The disciples were puzzled. “Who could have brought him food?”
34-35 Jesus said, “The food that keeps me going is that I do the will of the One who sent me, finishing the work he started. As you look around right now, wouldn’t you say that in about four months it will be time to harvest? Well, I’m telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what’s right in front of you. These Samaritan fields are ripe. It’s harvest time!
36-38 “The Harvester isn’t waiting. He’s taking his pay, gathering in this grain that’s ripe for eternal life. Now the Sower is arm in arm with the Harvester, triumphant. That’s the truth of the saying, ‘This one sows, that one harvests.’ I sent you to harvest a field you never worked. Without lifting a finger, you have walked in on a field worked long and hard by others.”
39-42 Many of the Samaritans from that village committed themselves to him because of the woman’s witness: “He knew all about the things I did. He knows me inside and out!” They asked him to stay on, so Jesus stayed two days. A lot more people entrusted their lives to him when they heard what he had to say. They said to the woman, “We’re no longer taking this on your say-so. We’ve heard it for ourselves and know it for sure. He’s the Savior of the world!”
Think about it…
–Some sow, others harvest. Both are triumphant!
–Many prophets had “tilled the soil” and sown the seeds of Truth.
–Jesus and his disciples were the harvesters in a field ripe and ready to accept and believe in the Savior of the world.
–Because of the woman’s witness…many believed.
–Keep sowing. Keep harvesting. Jesus saves.
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
Dear Heavenly Father,
Sometimes we feel we have said enough to loved ones who don’t care to know You. So we pray for others to come alongside them and say what we weren’t able to say. We pray for Your Holy Spirit to open their hearts. We pray for harvesters and sowers, working as a team to tell Your Story. We pray we never give up because you never gave up on us. To You be all glory, honor and praise! The harvest is now. There are so many who still need you.
In Jesus Name, Amen
