October 4 – Harvest Time

Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work. Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this case 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 labor."  John 4:34-38 (NASB)

When Jesus spoke these red letter words it was not harvest time yet. Now we are in the midst of harvest—well almost at the end of it. We see lots of apple and potato trucks every day on their way to storage sheds and factories. Crisp juicy apples! Is that the fruit for eternal life? Apples may have been the fruit for Adam and Eve (Genesis 3), but the fruit of eternal life could only be the fruit of the Spirit…as found in Galatians 5:22-23. Interestingly enough the same “fruit” is listed in Strong’s concordance meaning for John 4:36 as for Galatians 5:22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (NASB) Paul also used this same “fruit” in Romans 1:13 to refer to people. I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented so far) so that I may obtain some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles. Romans 1:13 (NASB). So think of “fruit” as souls that have made a decision to follow Jesus. Sometimes people when witness to others, the one listening does not make an immediate decision to believe in Jesus as the Messiah. Then when they do decide that Jesus is their Savior, others are there to share their joy. That could be considered “reaping” the benefits of believing when there is a time of praising Jesus. So look around you. Who is ready to believe in Jesus? Ask them if they know Jesus as their Savior—or who Jesus is to them? If He is not their Savior, then is there a heart ready for sowing seeds of information about Jesus and His love for them?

Telling others about Jesus should be a labor of love for all Christians, but since we don’t all have the gift of evangelism some people just aren’t comfortable with that responsibility. Frankly, I am one of those who have to push myself outside my box to go out and “harvest” for the Lord.

Jesus, give me some of the boldness of Peter to stand up and witness for You. Help me to plant seeds as well as harvest. You are worthy of our efforts—and so are those lost souls out there who You love just as much as me.

Happy Birthday Blessings, Lisa!

 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.