As I sat there today, I brought along my Bible. This week I challenged a student I am meeting with to read the book of John. I decided that since I told him to, I should take another trip through the book as well. So I pulled out my Bible and started reading.
I love the book of John because it is all about the person and life of Jesus! I love that it is so easily understood and so clearly describes who Jesus is, and what is needed to have a relationship with him. It seems like each time I read through it, I am reminded of something different. If you haven't read through the book of John lately, I would encourage you to do it! I promise you will learn something as you do!
As I read through John 4 today, I was reminded of one of those simple truths. You know, the ones that you hear in Sunday School as a little child, then again in youth group, and then again during Sunday mornings from your pastor... The ones that you know are true, but sometimes you never really stop to think about what they might mean to actually put them into practice.
These verses jumped off the pages for me this morning:
34 Then Jesus explained: "My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.35 You know the saying, `Four months between planting and harvest.' But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripes for harvest.36 The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!37 You know the saying, `One plants and another harvests.' And it's true.38 I sent you to harvest where you didn't plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest."I'm no farmer (but I did marry one) but I know that May is not the month for harvest. I also know that as I sat at the picnic table in downtown St. Croix Falls, I realized that I was smack in the middle of the field that God has placed me. The people, the culture, the youth and the city are ready for harvest! God has placed me where he has, not just so that I could work in the 4 walls of a church building, but so that I could be a part of the harvest of this field. This ins't anything earth shattering to me. But reading these verses while sitting in the middle of the "field" was powerful for me today!
In verse 36 it says, "What Joy Awaits both the planter and the harvester." I am excited to experience that Joy! My prayer is that I would be a part of the planting and a part of the harvesting in this Valley! Where has God placed you? Do you see the harvest around you? Are you a part of the planting? Are you experiencing the Joy of seeing the rewards of the hard work?
Would you do me a favor? Take your Bible, go into the middle of your town and sit down and read John 4:34-38. Maybe you need to drive your car to downtown and park and read these verses, maybe you can go to a park or a coffee shop, but find a way to get out of your normal surroundings and read these verses. After you have read them a couple times, take time to pray. Ask God to show you the harvest. Ask him to give you the boldness to plant seeds, and ask him to kick you our of your comfort zone and get start being purposeful about sharing your faith in Christ with the people around you.
This isn't a message to pastors. It is a message to believers.
PLEASE, if you read this post, do what I am asking. Then come back here and share how it went for you. It's only May, but the harvest is here!
(thanks to Yetta Olmstead for the photo of "my field.")
