I watched with wonder as combines trolled up and down the golden strips of wheat. My grandfather, a farmer, tended his plants throughout the season and now they stood ready for harvest—each tender kernel a testimony to his care.

Whether or not we earn a farmer’s wage, we too reap a harvest.

 

A Spiritual Harvest

Galatians 6:7-10 tells us, “Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the spirit will of the spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

As with farmers who grow different crops depending upon the season and location, sowing and reaping looks different for each of us. Some of us scatter seeds of truth among family members—investing most of our time with our little ones. Others plant hope at work, church, or among their social circles.

Regardless, laws of harvest guide us as we sow.

 

Five Laws of the Harvest

 We reap what we sow. I love the feel of damp, rich soil sifting through my fingers, but  I have a limited amount of time to garden. This summer, some of my beautiful flowers withered due to lack of attention. Even if we sow diligently, only that to which we attend will flourish.

Perhaps some of us take the same approach toward important spiritual disciplines–hoping an occasional prayer and irregular church attendance will result in spiritual growth. But as with my neglected plants, an anemic spiritual life limits our ability to share God’s love with assurance.

On the other hand, if we invest in the disciplines of our faith—prayer, fasting, and reading scripture–the soil of our hearts will be enriched. We will abound with His gifts as we invest in the lives of others.

 

We can reap to the flesh or the spirit.

Sowing to the flesh can lead to an abundant harvest, as well. Indulging in worldly lusts always results in a harvest of weeds.

We witness the results of reaping to the flesh every day. War ravages nations. Crime strikes fear in hearts around the nation. Church pews remain empty. Yet, God does not leave us without hope.

Long ago, Egypt struggled beneath the burden of a drought. But God’s people flourished in the land of Goshen. Their harvest was plentiful. In the same way, believers who take refuge in the Lord will be equipped to produce a lavish spiritual harvest.

 

Harvest occurs in due season.

Farmers plant seeds long before harvest occurs. From a spiritual standpoint, many of us invest for years in the lives of others before we see results. Prayers seem to go unanswered. The promises the Lord gave us appear to be unfulfilled. People we love continue to live outside His will. Until the seed takes root, blossoms, and produces a harvest.

 

Harvest requires perseverance.

Throughout the years, multiple crops on my grandfather’s farm suffered hail damage, infestations by grasshoppers, and lack of rain or snow. The verse above reminds us not to lose heart. As with a physical harvest, a spiritual harvest will confront difficulty. Struggle. Spiritual attack.

The verse above reminds us not to lose heart. As with a physical harvest, a spiritual harvest will confront difficulty. Struggle. Spiritual attack. Click To Tweet

 

Reap among believers and unbelievers.

Many times, I think of sowing seeds of God’s hope and love among those who don’t know Him. However, Galatians exhorts us to diligently attend to the needs of the church, as well. More than one in five adults struggles with mental health–both within and without the body of believers. Approximately half of all marriages end in divorce. Hurting men, women, and children walk through the church foyer every Sunday. People who know and love Jesus—as well as those do not yet claim Him as Lord–need each of us to love on them.

 

Encouraging Bible Verses About Sowing and Reaping

• He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”(Jeremiah 17:28 ESV)
• The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise. (Proverbs 11:30 ESV)
• He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. (2 Corinthians 9:10 ESV)
• …give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. (Luke 6:38 ESV)
• Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.
  He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed,
  Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalm 126:5-7 ESV)
• And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:18 ESV)
• Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love;break up your fallow ground,
  for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you. (Hosea 10:12 ESV)
• The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully^[a]will also reap bountifully. (2 Corinthians 9:6 ESV)
• When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. (Matthew 9:36-38 ESV)
• Alreadythe one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” (John 36-38 ESV)

 

A Prayer for the Harvest

Lord, you tell us that he who sows sparingly will reap sparingly. Give us your heart Father, that we might invest in the lives of the hurting and hopeless. Help us to serve those around us with your mercy, compassion, and faithfulness. Give us your love for those who do not yet know You and teach us to serve one another diligently. Would you help us to take advantage of each opportunity to share the hope of the Gospel that we might reap a bountiful harvest for your glory.

Amen

 

Peace and grace,
Tammy

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