Teamwork = abundant harvest

Tuesday 8-2-2016   Home in Modesto

Scripture Reading:  2 Kings 21    2 Chron 33    John

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  John 4:35-38 Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.  For in this the saying is true: 'One sows and another reaps.'  I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors." NKJV

O.  Jesus will soon be sending out His disciples to the ends of the earth to sow the seed of the Gospel and reap a great harvest. A successful harvest, He explains, is the result of teamwork.  Someone plows the hard ground.  Another may sow the seed.  God gives the rain and sunshine that makes that seed germinate and grow.  Then someone else may come to reap the golden wheat. So now the sower and the reaper can rejoice together as they gather up the eternal fruit.  

A.  Frances and I could never have reached Argentina without the team. A mission-sending organization was already in place. Pastors allowed us to present our vision. Thousands of people from over 200 churches gave sacrificially. Once on the field we were welcomed into the home of Pansy Blossom and Ruth Couchman, single ladies that had prepared the soil and sowed the seed along with many others. God was now sending His sunshine and His rain. The tiny roots were descending searching for water. Fragile green blades were pushing their way up through stubborn soil.  Soon it would be harvest time. And behold! We were among the privileged ones to labor in the harvest for eternal fruit!

P.  Oh Lord, You allowed us to reap, but also to plant for a future crop. You surely want me and every Christian to always be preparing the ground and planting the seed for a future harvest. King Hezekiah was a good king, but had one detestable fault. He was content to let God’s wrath and judgement to fall on his children and grandchildren as long as it did not happen during his lifetime.* What a limited and selfish attitude! Make me aware that my task is not only to harvest the fruit planted by others, but to leave behind me a heritage for the next generation to reap a still greater harvest. Amen.

Ralph

*2 Kings 20:19