Meditate and
consider God’s judgment.
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Mosaic tile in Israel.
Harvester tromping grapes. |
Come quickly, all you nations everywhere.
Gather together in the valley. And now, O LORD, call out your warriors! Let the
nations be called to arms. Let them march to the valley of Jehoshaphat. There
I, the LORD, will sit to pronounce judgment on them all. Swing the
sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread the grapes, for the winepress is
full. The storage vats are overflowing with the wickedness of these people. Thousands
upon thousands are waiting in the valley of decision. There the day of the LORD
will soon arrive. Joel 3:11-14
My Ryrie Study Bible notes that the valley
of Jehoshaphat, literally meaning Yahweh judges, may have been the Kidron
Valley east of Jerusalem. In this valley of decision God will judge the
Gentiles, separating the sheep from the goats, as described in Matthew
25:31-32, 40, and 45-46. Here also note that the harvest is of the wicked
people, since the storage vats are overflowing with those people. A similar
reference can be seen in Revelation.
Then I saw a white cloud, and seated on the
cloud was someone like the Son of Man. He had a gold crown on his head and a
sharp sickle in his hand. Then another angel came from the Temple and shouted
to the one sitting on the cloud, "Swing the sickle, for the time of
harvest has come; the crop on earth is ripe." ... Then another angel, who
had power to destroy with fire, came from the altar. He shouted to the angel
with the sharp sickle, "Swing your sickle now to gather the clusters of
grapes from the vines of the earth, for they are ripe for judgment." So
the angel swung his sickle over the earth and loaded the grapes into the great
winepress of God's wrath. Revelation 14:14-15, 18-19
When Jesus speaks of harvest He is
referring to harvesting souls.
You know the saying, 'Four months between
planting and harvest.' But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are
already ripe for 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! You know the saying, 'One plants and another
harvests.' And it's true. 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. John
4:35-38
Harvest time doesn’t have to wait for fall
when it is concerning harvesting souls. Here in the Pacific Northwest of the
United States we’ve already had hay or alfalfa harvest all summer long, and now
potatoes, melons, garden crops like lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, fresh beans,
carrots and beets are picked and sold in fresh markets. Grapes are beginning to
be plucked from the vines and the local wineries will be crushing them to make
their famous wines. Harvest time is at hand.
What kind of harvest will you be part of as
God directs His angels to gather in the souls of the world? Will you be facing
the wrath of God or experiencing the mercy of the Lord since the blood of Jesus
has washed away your sin? The choice is yours.
Dear friends, if we deliberately continue
sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any
sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of
God's judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. For anyone
who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the
testimony of two or three witnesses. Just think how much worse the punishment
will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the
blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and
have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God's mercy to us. For
we know the one who said, "I will take revenge. I will pay them
back." He also said, "The LORD will judge his own people." It is
a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:26-31.
Prayer
~ Lord, I know that Jesus is the only sacrifice for all sin. Only His righteousness
can save us. I ask that You would open the eyes and hearts of anyone in my
family, or of my friends or neighbors who have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as
their Savior. Help them to see the truth of Jesus love for us before it is too
late.
Verses
of Salvation ~ For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not
delay. And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in
anyone who turns away." But we are not like those who turn away from God
to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved. Hebrews
10:37-39
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Grapes in my yard.
Harvest time! |
Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table
As usual every Friday is Feast Day—Feasting at the King’s Table. We can’t
live on just spiritual food …nor can we live on bread alone. We’ve got to have
some meat, veggies and fruit.
Fresh foods are the best. Fresh and raw.
Wash up some fresh grapes today and as you eat them reflect on the variety of
foods that God gives you to “harvest” as well as the symbolism of the grapes,
the wine and the blood of Jesus.
© 2020 Text,
photos and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
Unless
otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation,
copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of
Tyndale House
Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - https://www.blb.org
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Parenting Day By Day
Daily Devotional for Building Character
