Key Verse: "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."
Isaiah 55:10-11
Behold a mystery: the seed that the farmer plants in the
ground sprouts and grows and produces for the farmer. Behold a mystery: the
seed of the Word of God, planted in the soil of a willing heart, sprouts and
grows and produces for its maker. If the farmer were to wait until he fully
understood the process, he may never have a crop. If we wait until we fully
understand the mystery of God's Word in the heart of a man, we may never lead
another to the Lord.
God's ways are not our ways and we need to accept that. It
would be foolish for the farmer to lose sleep over trying to figure it all out.
Instead, by faith he prepares the soil and plants his crop in the spring. He
dutifully tends the crop, removing predators and what weeds he can, doing his
best to maintain soil conditions. He is obedient to his task and, Lord willing,
in the fall, provided that conditions remain favorable, he will have a harvest
as a reward for his faithfulness and discipline.
It is amazing how similar our calling in Christ is to that
of the farmer for his crop. We do not understand exactly how Christ works in
our own hearts, let alone in someone else’s. We are called to be obedient, in
faith, to spread His Word, and be obedient in His command to "Go into all
the world and preach the gospel," (Matthew
28:19), and have faith that God's Word will not return to Him empty, but
will accomplish what He desires, and achieve the purpose for which it was sent
by Him. (Isaiah 55:11B) "For faith is the assurance of things hoped for,
the certainty of things unseen." (Hebrews
11:1)
We can never hold back because we think that the person we
might reach isn't worth it, or is too hard-hearted to win for Christ. If Christ
had treated us that way, where would we be today? "For it is God who works
in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." (Phil.
2:13) We don't know the outcome. Our job is to be faithful, sow the seed,
nourish and tend it faithfully with prayer and leave the results up to God.
This is another illustration, common to an agricultural
society to help them understand the Kingdom of God, Christ's Kingdom.
Yesterday, Jesus talked about the soil, our hearts, and the seed, His Word.
Today, the seed is still His word, but the key ingredient today is our faithful
obedience and our trust in the power of God's Word. As we put these parables together, we are beginning to understand
how it works, meaning the Kingdom of God. Again, He speaks in parables to keep
a bit of mystery for those who do not care to know, but He has promised,
"You will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all
your soul." (Deut.
4:29b). Be earnest and His mysteries
will become known to you.
Hymn: "Come Ye Thankful People Come"
Comments
Post a Comment