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This Week’s Devotional Topic
SOWING AND REAPING
Sowing and reaping are an inescapable reality of this life. We reap what we sow.
Sue and I wanted grass to grow in an unused portion of our back yard. Before we could sow the seed, we carefully chose and identified the area, then prepared the soil. We brought in some ‘top soil’ in order to help feed and nurture the seeds. Then we broadcast the seed, spread it out so that there wasn’t too much in some areas and not a good concentration of seeds in other spots. At that point, we covered the seed with a light blanket of compost. Once we started watering it, this would help to keep the seed warm and moist. If you let them dry during this period it may prevent them from germinating and won’t grow. Finally, came the time to start a regular application of water. We ran the sprinklers at regular intervals every day for about three weeks. We had done our best and trusted God for the rest. He provided the necessary sunshine, allowing the seeds to germinate. It was exciting for us to see the tiny little sprouts, then after a few days, we saw the “green” blades of grass. Now we enjoy a beautiful carpet of lawn, reaping the results of our labor. When you think about it, there are a lot of spiritual applications for this process.
In the beginning, God provided an example of how that we are given ‘seeds’ to result in bearing fruit.
Genesis 1:11,12 And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
Jesus explains the Parable of the Sower followed by the Parable of the Weeds.
Matthew 13:18-30 “Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”
Not only do we reap where we sow, we reap “what we sow”. When we sow sun flower seeds, we don’t reap a field of grass.
Job 4:8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
Mark 4:26 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.”
Jesus gives the great commission, a command to go about planting seeds of the gospel.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Romans 10:9-15 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
May God help us to continue sharing, planting seeds of the good news.
This week’s Scripture:
Genesis 1:11,12; Matthew 13:18-30; Job 4:8; Mark 4:26; 16:15 and Romans 10:9-15
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