The few times that I’ve led people to the Lord have been exciting and exhilarating just knowing that a soul headed for hell is now born into the kingdom of God by adoption. They have become joint-heirs with Jesus Christ; children of the Most High God. What an amazing experience!
I was concerned for those that didn’t receive Jesus as their Savior and went their way; business as usual. I thought I had failed in some way to communicate the good news of God’s love in my witness. I came to realize that God’s people, at times, may sow the seeds of His plan, while others water them. God then sends another individual their way to reap the harvest when that soul is ready to receive Jesus Christ as Lord of their life. God’s redemption plan is perfect. He uses us in different ways to convey His ideal plan to bring about the eventual surrender of a heart that needs God.
I’ve learned that the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are many. But the parable found in (Matthew 13:3-8) makes it a little clearer; the reasons why some people don’t respond in a positive way to the words I share with them. “…Behold, a sower went out to sow.” vs. 4 “And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.” vs. 5 “Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth.” vs. 6 “But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.” vs. 7 “Some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.” vs. 8 “But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop; some a hundredfold; some sixty, some thirty.”
One thing remains constant after sowing seeds. It’s the wait. (James 1:2) “The testing of our faith produces patience.” This scripture pertains to falling into various trials and letting patience have its perfect work, but I believe it can apply to sowing as well; especially sowing seeds of faith. (2 Corinthians 5:7) “We walk by faith, not by sight.”
There are times we cannot see the results of our labor-of-love when witnessing to others. But as we continue sowing seeds of God’s salvation plan, we are happy when someone else receives the fruit of God’s gift…His son, Jesus.
Perhaps we may never know what takes place in a life that we have witnessed to, but God’s Word does not return void. (Isaiah 55:11) “So shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”
Christians are God’s mouthpiece. As dedicated children of God continue their work for the Lord, He speaks through them and accomplishes His plan in people’s lives, because of His great love for humanity.
I have been taught that when a financial seed is planted, I will reap a harvest from that seed. Sometimes it is a seed faith offering that is sown, but God’s Word is forever true.
(2 Corinthians 9:6-10) “…He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” vs. 7 “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” vs. 8 “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” vs. 9 “As it is written: ‘He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.’ ” vs. 10 “Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness.”
Whether planting a great number of seeds in soil tilled with care, or planting a tiny seed of faith in the soil of God’s hope, it is not too long before good things are realized, though we wonder at times if God will ever answer. As we plant and leave the seed for nature and God to do what they do best, we reap a wonderful harvest in God’s time when patience prevails. The wait is seldom pleasant, but the end result is always worth the wait.
Don’t lose hope by saying, “God doesn’t care about my situation.” He does! His timing is perfect in all things. We can rest in the knowledge of (Psalm 37:23-26). “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.” vs. 24 “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand.” vs. 25 “I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.”
Things aren’t always as they appear. We must continue to look through the eyes of faith, hope and expectation rather than eyes of hopelessness and despair. Jesus is our rock; our fortress. (Psalm 18:2) “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation; my stronghold.”
(Psalm 62:5-8) “My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.” vs. 6 “He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.” vs. 7 “In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.” vs. 8 “Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”
Written by,
Papa Boyd
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