God says, ‘If you love Me and serve Me with all your heart, I will send the early and late rain bringing the necessary provision to finish the work of harvest in these times’ (Deut. 11:13-14). We live in difficult days, yet glorious days when you consider the Master commands a harvest. He presides as Lord of the harvest urging our service as His followers. In James 5:7-8, He says to you in these days, ‘be patient brethren until the coming of the Lord’. The reference to brethren is a reference to kinship and friendship; if you care to receive it, is a call to discipleship. It is a call to follow the things that drove the ministry of Jesus. In these two verses he says, consider the farmer and be like him. What about the farmer you ask? He is waiting on the precious produce of the soil with a vested interest in the field. These verses remind us the coming of the Lord is at hand, and that we should find ourselves committed to the produce of His field. Like the parable of the talents says about His return, He will be looking for your produce. He is not coming back so you can show Him your stuff. His return will be all about souls and what you’ve done with the seed He gave you. Jesus said, ‘lift your eyes and look on the fields white unto harvest’. Right now, amid perhaps, the greatest mixture of Christianity and darkness the world has ever known, there is a harvest waiting. However, one can only reap by being a friend of Jesus as John 15 states. He is saying, ‘I chose you, I appointed you to bear fruit, I appoint you to a harvest’. ‘Understand the season of my return is near, I’ve given the early rains, but it’s the latter rain that ushers in harvest.’ The body of Christ need remind herself and be encouraged that the rain of God’s blessing for harvest comes to a people–to a whole hearted people– who have lost themselves and yet been found, in a place of prayer. Praying with expectatation, they are looking to be found faithful in their work with a complete dependance upon the Lord who sends the rain that brings harvest. Do you understand the signs of the times? Have you heard His call? Let’s pray for eyes to see His field and for the rain that brings harvest.
Tag: world
In Times Like These
Times like these are days marked by uncertainty. There are pressing fears without and fears within. For the believer, there remains only one constant; it will be the insight you draw from the Word of God that keeps you; it will be this truth that gives you a bearing. When Jesus fed the multitude with one small boy’s offering, He makes a point giving insight into times like these. That day, there was not enough money to feed such a crowd, yet the favor of God at Jesus’ blessing was all that was necessary to transform small things into great. The point is we are living in times when your resources will fail, and it will be more important than ever to understand His ability to take the small things and make great impact, not only in your life, but the lives of many others. In times like these, in the coming days ahead, who are you going to trust? Jesus offers the favor and blessing of God that can unlock the wealth of His kingdom. Like that small boy, He desires to use you and that small gift you possess. What will you do? Times like these require decisive action. What about your gift? It’s greater only in His hand producing the blessing of God–in times like these.
The Witness of My Love
The way you love is a witness about what and who you will follow, and it will surely dictate who you serve. Jesus said, “by this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Love for others is the test of true disciples. It is this distinct quality that redeems men and promotes a witness that speaks louder than mere words. This past week, I felt as though the Lord was revealing to me the true marks of His discipleship. His disciple is a follower; he is led by the Spirit of God to become the example of Jesus by loving others through difficult and trying situations. Jesus commands this love by saying, ‘love as I loved you, follow me.’ ‘I loved you when you were far off, even haters of God, so I loved you and say love others like that.’ Second, His disciple is a fisher of men, a rescuer of souls in danger. He looks by the Spirit of God for ways to forgive and so redeem what would otherwise be lost. Third, he is a finisher. It’s not just that he is one who endures all things to the end, but that he, by wisdom, seeks to finish the work of God in the lives of others like a skillful carpenter would carefully adorn the inside of a large house making it possible for others to find life and living there. It is to complete the work that Jesus birthed in others through much prayer by learning to love instead of loving to hate. Jesus is calling you as His disciple to a love relationship thereby saying, ‘why not begin to pray that your closest relationships be marked by My love?’ Why not pray for those places where loving is hard? ‘Come, develop my character of love, because I have loved you through some difficult times so you could be, as My disciple, the witness of My love.’
The Kingdom of God
What is the Kingdom of God like? How could you Illustrate It? These questions Jesus asks and then answers by saying, ‘It is like a tiny mustard seed’, planted in a garden. Planted within earthen vessels, the Kingdom is within you. God has given to each a measured task in this Kingdom. And He has not called me to compare my work to the work of others, He simply seeks for me to follow my unique talents in bringing an increase to this living structure. Right now, in the crucible of your circumstances, God is developing faithfulness to make sons of His kingdom in order that in these days ahead, we might be that city set on a hill–a bright light and living demonstration of relationship marked by His love. Recently, it was impressed upon me and now I say to you, God is not finished with your mistakes and is working to prepare you for the work of His kingdom..hear His voice and follow His call.
GraceLife 