Little Is Much when God Is in It

Monday, September 2, 2024
"After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, '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.'" (Luke 10:1-2)
My father came from multiple generations of homesteading farmers. He decided that farm living wasn't the life for him (he fled to California after getting married). Although he left the farm, the farm never completely left him. Even in my lifetime, he was still proud of raising Hereford cattle in 4H (Grand Champions two years in a row), and he knew the rhythm of the seasons, from springtime to harvest.
Harvest on the farm depends on sowing. Whatever you planted -- corn, wheat, alfalfa -- you harvest what grew. There is also a spiritual harvest, which is souls saved by hearing and responding to God's salvation message. Jesus said to Simon and Andrew, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19) When the disciples found Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman, he told them, "The fields are white for harvest," (John 4:35) because many Samaritans from that town believed in Him.
Just like a farm harvest, a spiritual harvest also starts with sowing. What do we plant? Jesus made it clear when explaining the Parable of the Sower, "The seed is the word of God." (Luke 8:11) That's what I'm doing here. In words and in songs, I'm sharing the Bible message. Sometimes, it's discouraging because it's not clear how many people are reading, listening, and being blessed. But God promises that when we faithfully sow, He will produce a harvest. "Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him." (Psalm 126:5-6)