PLOW, PLANT AND BE PATIENT!
PLOW, PLANT AND BE PATIENT!
Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.” —Mark 4:26-29
The farmer sows the seed, but he cannot make it grow. While he sleeps or while he is awake the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not MAKE it grow! While it is underground he cannot see it starting to germinate. The Farmer can only see it when the sprout pokes through the soil. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlkNpoqOXEU
“After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.” –I Corinthians 3:5-8
How many around us have had the seed of the Word of God planted in their hearts? We cannot see it at this point, but God is doing a work below the surface in their hearts. Praise the Lord when we see the seed grow and then is ready to harvest! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97Lx2DjMENY&index=42&list=PLcHqC9YNzSaD-O-rkP9o8hDA9jJ_oja4l
Prison ministry has been an area of fertile soil. Praise God for yet another man, Ernie, as he trusted the Lord Jesus yesterday. Praise the Lord also for 4 more men following the Lord in baptism this coming Saturday evening. I am blessed to be a part of this process and it is so exciting to see these men taking this step in following our Lord Jesus Christ. People planted seed in their lives and God made it grow and it is exciting to see the harvest that God brings.
Our responsibility as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ is to be planting seed and trusting God to make grow what He desires to make grow. Then when harvest time comes we need to be faithful in discipling these new followers of Jesus, these babes in Christ and encourage them to grow up in Jesus
So, are you sowing seeds? If not, why not? That is one priority He has called His followers to do? If you are sowing, be patient. God will make some of that seed grow!
Dear Father, may I sow bountifully and may You be please to cause the seed to bountifully sprout. Yes, please help me to be faithfully plowing and planting the seed of Your Word, being patient as You cause it to grow. May this be done in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.