Thursday,
August 14, 2008
(Proper 14)
AM Psalm 105:1-22; PM Psalm 105:23-45
Judges 14:1-19; Acts 6:15-7:16; John
4:27-42
Key Verse: "One person plants and someone else harvests." John 4:37
PLANTING
AND HARVESTING
By Dorothy A.
DeBisschop
When the disciples return to Jesus, where he had been talking to the Samaritan woman at the well, he told them "Vast fields are ripening all around us and are ready now for the harvest. 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!"
Then he goes on to say, "One person plants and someone else harvests."
This is an important reminder, especially for those who are in any way working with or involved with youth. How many times have I heard a youth worker recall that some particular youth seemed not to care, seemed not to "get it," at the time, but years later that now-grown person came back to a youth leader or a Sunday School teacher and told them their efforts were ultimately influential.
Sometimes we are planting seeds that take years to be ready for harvest -- and sometimes when we plant seeds, we aren't even aware we are doing so!
ACTIVITY FOR THE DAY: Think about early influences in your life which helped to bring you to a relationship with Christ. As you recall those persons who influenced you, ask yourself if you are doing similar things for others.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we thank you for all those who have planted and those who have harvested in our lives. We ask that your Holly Spirit be active in our lives and that we will also be planters and harvesters. Let us serve you faithfully in spreading the Good News of salvation. Amen.
JOURNALING NOTES:
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