Sowing and Reaping

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JESUS SPEAKING

“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.” (John 4: 35 – 38)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

Using the fundamentals of crop production, Jesus illustrates the spread of the gospel message. Many old testament figures had sown seeds through their prophetic descriptions of a future Messiah (Savior.) Similarly, John the Baptist sowed many seeds, urging his followers to repent of their sins in preparation for the arrival of Jesus Christ. These seeds of hope had taken root and grown into maturity; enabling the disciples to harvest the souls of all those willing to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Many today have mixed opinions concerning the benefits of social media; and yet one thing is for certain; it is a very popular means of communication. In turn, as a Christian I have embraced this new technology; utilizing it to sow spiritual seeds in the hearts of all those I have come to know. Instead of posting personal updates and photos, I have chosen to use my account almost exclusively to post the words of Jesus Christ; as revealed in the scriptures. He is the savior of my soul, and therefore all that I possess exists to serve His will.

As Christians, our calling is to enter into the process of sowing seeds and reaping souls for God’s everlasting kingdom. We might present others with the gospel, or introduce them to certain scriptures that can take root in their hearts and grow. If we commit ourselves to God’s work, then our task is to save others and to offer them the same salvation we received in faith. May we never stop seeking the lost!

“Lord Heavenly Father, give us the strength to continue our mission by saving souls and planting seeds in the hearts of others. May we remain faithful to our duties, as we experience the joy of existing in communion with You. Direct our steps through the power of Your Holy Spirit. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You. And we ask and pray all of these things according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name, amen.” God bless all of you!

The Conviction of the Holy Spirit

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JESUS SPEAKING

“But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgement, because the ruler of this world is judged.” (John 16: 5 – 11)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

Before His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus promised to send a replacement known as the Holy Spirit; (the third person of the Trinity), which is the indwelling of God’s Spirit within the heart of every believer. Although the Spirit has many functions, we are told here that “He will convict the world of sin.” Those who are unwilling to change will reject the gospel message outright. However, those who choose to follow Christ will experience conviction concerning any sins they are engaging in. This supernatural guilt enables believers to identify sin, and the Holy Spirit then empowers them to repent and be transformed.

In general, pain is a very interesting sensation. Although it can cause great anguish, its primary purpose is to communicate to an individual that some portion of their body has been damaged and requires attention. The greater the injury, the greater the pain. When a tooth goes bad for example, it can become infected to such a degree that it causes swelling, bleeding, and can even put devastating pressure on the facial nerves. An abscess (infected) tooth can be one of the most painful sensations a person can ever experience. Those enduring this type of extreme suffering will inevitably be led to visit a dentist. As a result, any good dentist will take immediate action to relieve the pain from the infection by numbing and cleaning the area, draining the abscess, doing a root canal, or even removing the tooth entirely.

Like the pain caused by an infected tooth, the conviction of the Holy Spirit can cause moments of suffering in the soul that demand immediate attention. Like a rotten tooth, any areas of sin in a Christians life will be revealed. And in turn, they are drawn to the act of repentance; which leads to the removal of that behavior and brings great relief. Thus conviction is a healthy message from the Lord that can lead individuals toward a more Godly life. May we never grow deaf, but instead, always remain aware of what the Holy Spirit is communicating to us.

“Lord Heavenly Father, we praise You for Your goodness, Your wisdom, and Your affection. We desire to be filled with Your Holy Spirit, and to remain attentive to the feelings of conviction and guilt that arise in our hearts in association to sin. May we repent whenever necessary, and seek to be as much like You as we are able. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!

The Chosen

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JESUS SPEAKING

“Do not murmur among yourselves, no one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. Most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.” (John 6: 43 – 47)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

All those who are chosen by God will eventually be drawn to His only begotten Son. Jesus Christ is the singular doorway that leads to reconciliation with the Father. There are no other ways to know God. On the mount of transfiguration, God said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him.“ And thus, anyone who desires to know God’s will and to follow Him, must look to Jesus Christ. His words are God’s words; His teachings are God’s teachings.

Every year in April the NFL draft occurs. During this event, all of the professional football coaches and owners gather together with the incoming college players to choose who they will recruit for their teams. The players undergo physical fitness testing at a prior event known as the combine; and this information is used to ensure that only the fastest, the strongest, and the smartest players are selected. After the draft event is completed, some will revel in celebration, while others will experience disappointment. Many are called to the NFL draft, but only a select few are chosen.

In much the same way, Christians are chosen by God from the overall population of people living today. Those whom He chooses are drawn to Jesus Christ; and these individuals are reconciled to the Father through faith in His Son. What a wonderful feeling it is to know that we are special; that we have been chosen by God and are loved by Him. May we revel in that knowledge as we seek to implement the teachings of Christ in every area of our lives. (Note: We are also obligated to choose to follow God.)

“Lord Heavenly Father, we are overcome with joy, knowing that You have chosen us to be your people; to follow Your Son in submission to Your will. Fill our hearts with Your Holy Spirit, that we may become mighty messengers of the gospel of Grace. In gratitude, may we exemplify what it means to be Christians. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You; and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!