Skip to main content

August 8: Our Harvest

From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach is filled. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. ~Proverbs 18:20-21 


If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. ~1 Peter 4:11 

Do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked. A person reaps what he or she sows. The one who sows to please the sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction. The one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will receive eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing well; for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ~Galatians 6:7-9

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” This is the key to understanding the verse that precedes it. Some people do seem to love being destructive with their words, speaking harshly, vindictive, overly critical. But those who do love speaking that way will one day reap what they have sown, and they will eat that bitter fruit. I think the sense of, “With the harvest of his lips he will be satisfied is: “You asked for it!”  

It is far better for us to remember that though “The tongue has the power of life and death,” dead things cannot grow good fruit, only live things can. Only a tongue that gives life can bear fruit that is worth harvesting and filling our stomachs. So, Peter describes what a fruitful mouth should say: “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.” 

It would be an interesting challenge for us to run everything we say through the filter of, “Would Jesus say this, this way, at this time?” If we could only remember to ask ourselves that more often, our language would probably become more fruitful almost immediately. We probably already have a pretty good idea of how Jesus conversed with others while on this earth. He was known for words of encouragement and blessing. He was willing to be challenging with the truth. He did stand firm, and he was willing to let people walk away. Yet, they still came to Him because they knew that what He had to say was worth listening too. 

When we can speak like that, we speak life into people’s souls, nourishing fruit that blesses the hearer. “with the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.” What is his harvest? “A person reaps what is sown.” “We will reap a harvest.” When we sow life into others, we reap life in return and that is satisfying in the fullest. 

We have visited this theme many times concerning the power of our tongue. We forget that our words can be as powerful to others as words that we have heard are powerful in our lives. We need to remember how it felt to be put down or unfairly criticized or gossiped about and determine not to visit that anguish on others. We also will benefit from remembering how it feels to be noticed, to be complimented, praised or recognized in some other way for our efforts. That feeling is what we should want to share with others so that we can be satisfied with the harvest we have sown. 

Prayer: Oh Father, may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Let me sow gospel seeds! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Song: Speak Life 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

October 27 Save the Glaze for the Bunny

Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips of an evil heart. A malicious man disguises himself with his lips. But in his heart, he harbors deceit. Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it. If a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him. ~Proverbs 26:23-28 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. Even one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth. T...
Post a Comment
Read more

July 16 Thick Skinned Love

Whoever covers over an offence promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. ~Proverbs 17:9 If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. ~Matthew 18:15  The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ~1 Peter 4:7-8  Being offended seems to be the battle cry of the day. Instead of freedom of speech, everyone has the right not to be offended. If one is offended, then one has the right to exact vengeance on the offender because, of course, the offender KNEW that he or she was being offensive and just didn’t care. Is that how you see much of society behaving today?  There seems to be all of this offending and finger pointing that just keeps growing and growing. Nothing is being resolved, just more blame that grows louder a...
Post a Comment
Read more

January 24 You’ll See, He Remembers

The wise inherit honor, but fools He holds up to shame. ~Proverbs 3:35 “Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.” ~Isaiah 3:10 “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” ~Hebrews 6:10-12 “The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them. The sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.” ~1 Timothy 5:24-25 “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” ~Matthew 12:36-3...
Post a Comment
Read more