Spiritual farming

Oct 15

Today’s scriptures: Mark 4: 26-29, 1 Corinthians 3:5-8, Matthew 9:35-38

Movement 1: Scattering seeds

Read: Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.” Mark 4:26-29

Reflect: Whether you are familiar with agriculture or not, God uses this beautiful analogy in His Word to help us understand His Kingdom. One unique role He gives each of His children is that of farmer. As we go about our days, we are scattering seeds...whether we realize it or not. One key question to ask is, “What kind of seeds am I scattering?” You see, we can scatter seeds of judgment, division, negativity, confusion, and pain or we can scatter seeds of Good News, kindness, love, welcome, and gratitude.

Prayerfully, we are scattering the second type of seeds - seeds of the Good News of Jesus to those who do not yet know how much He loves them. Reflect on the Good News seeds that you have scattered in your context. Reflect on the growth you have seen.

Pray: First, ask God to reveal to you which kind of seeds you are scattering. It may be different kinds in different settings around different people.

Second, God is the one making the seed sprout and grow. Praise Him for the work He is doing behind the scenes.

Movement 2: My piece in the puzzle

Read: After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. 1 Corinthians 3:5-8

Reflect: On this Gospel-planting journey, we are only a piece of the puzzle. God brings someone into our life for one brief encounter, a week, a month, or even a few years. But we are not the only piece of the puzzle. God is constantly working through us and those around us to bring the Good News to those who need it. We may not get to see the harvest that we want to see. Someone else may get to see and pick the “fruit” of the harvest in someone’s life that we have been journeying with. But we each have a role in that person’s journey towards Jesus that is valuable and necessary.

Pray: Ask God to bring to mind a person for whom you have been praying - someone who does not yet know how much Jesus loves them. Think about your journey with them. Ask God to affirm you for your role in their life. Praise Him for the movement that you have seen in their life and ask Him for more. Repent if you have thought that you are the only one who can be Good News to this person. As God to bring others into their life who can be Good News to them and walk alongside them in their journey toward Jesus.

Movement 3: Asking for more

Read: Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
Matthew 9:35-38

Reflect: We serve a big God. A God who wants to give us good things. A God who always has more for us. A God who is more. He wants to see our faith increase. He wants us to ask Him for more faith, more healing, more steps, more stories, more workers. Our God is in charge of the harvest and He tells us to ask...

Pray: Take time to ask God for more. More of whatever you need to persevere on this Gospel-planting journey. Ask Him for more workers. Pray for more workers in your context, in Kansas City, in our nation, and in our world.