THE WORK OF FAITH
That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless. —I Thessalonians 3:5
Planting fields are done so with the expectation of a harvest. So it is when share the gospel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PxEb16udVk There is an expectation that when people hear God’s Word it would take root in them, sprout and bear fruit just as when you plant corn or any other crop.
How sad it is when a farmer works for hours and hours planting his field only to have crop failure. It is also sad when seed, the Word of God, is planted in someone’s life only to never take root. Their hearts may have seemed to be receptive “soil” when with them, but over time it becomes apparent that there was crop failure and the seed rooted in the “ground.”
This was the concern of the Apostle Paul with the Thessalonians. Was their work with these people fruitful? Would there be a “crop?” Or, was their work among them “useless” and only crop failure resulted? Timothy was sent back to the “field” to see how the “crop” was doing.
Here is the result of Timothy’s visit with the Thessalonians— “But now Timothy has just returned, bringing us good news about your faith and love. He reports that you always remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you. So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith (I Thessalonians 3:6-10).
May we bring great encouragement to others who “planted the seed in us” and may others bring encouragement to us as we see the seed planted in them take root, sprout and bear fruit!
Dear Father, be please to bear much fruit through me. May I faithfully plant and water Your seed and may it take root, sprout and bear much fruit to bring honor and glory to Your Name in the authority of Jesus and by the Holy Spirit’s power.