Seeds of Faith
The spiritual harvest you have today comes from what was previously sown. The seeds of faith you sow today will produce the harvest of tomorrow. The Lord says you will always reap what you sow.
“You are the children of the Lord your God...you are a people holy to the Lord your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the Lord has chosen you to be his treasured possession. Do not eat any detestable thing...you are a people holy to the Lord your God...Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year...so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.”
Deuteronomy 14:1-11, 19-29
How can you know what to do unless you know who you are? The first statement God makes to you is about who you are to Him. You are a dearly loved child, holy, treasured, and chosen. Have you declared these truths yet today? What would happen if you started each day by affirming who you are to the God who created you? Would you have more strength and enthusiasm to plant seeds?
God gives a simple command. Do not eat any detestable thing. This statement goes beyond what we consume that goes into our bodies. What are you consuming each day? What are you watching, reading, or listening to that is not holy or pleasing to God? Have you considered whether what you consume is drawing you closer to Jesus Christ? God does not say be perfect, He says be holy.
Do you see everything in your life as a gift from God? Part of the holiness God calls us to is with our generosity. We are to be holy like He is holy. He is generous so we are called to be generous through how we give back and demonstrate that we trust Him. Giving back to God is like planting a thousand seeds that God can nurture to provide a more abundant harvest later. God says simply give so that I can bless. He does not say give so you can have less. You will never have less when you listen to the advice for how God promises to bless.
“Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed. My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled. I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. Show me the wonders of your great love...I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.”
Psalms 17:3, 5-8, 15
Each day that we read or sing the psalms we peer through the window of time into David's heart. David has a doctorate in drawing closer to God. Do you want to learn from Him? David continually examines his life to see what crop his life is producing. He is looking at how he is planting seeds to see whether he planted good or evil. He does not say that he never planted evil, he just says he did not plan to plant evil. There will be times in our lives where our words, actions, and attitude plant evil even when it was not planned. When we allow our pride or impatience to lead our decision making, we can find ourselves planting unplanned evil. How could you examine what you have been planting to see if it will produce a crop that points to Christ?
David says I have held to your paths. The truth is life is a journey and we often only get enough light to see where to travel this day. How do you hold to the paths and avoid stumbling? Slow down and let the Spirit decide where and how to go through the day. Consider carefully what seeds you plant and give thanks that when you look at your life there is evidence of the likeness of Jesus all over it.
“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good rewarded for theirs. It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy... those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness...All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death. Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly. Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.”
Proverbs 14:2, 4, 10-14, 21-31
Solomon takes us to a fork in the road and we have to make a decision. Which way will we go? The way that appears right but ends in death is the road that is your own way. It is the way of the prodigal. It says give me my inheritance now so I can get what I want and plant seeds of the flesh. It is the opposite of living a life of discipline. It is a life that does whatever one pleases and does not worry about the impact on relationships with God or others. Solomon says it is the person who is envious of others, talks the talk but does not walk the walk, does not fear the Lord, is quick tempered and impatient, and ignores the needs of others. Are any of these snares in your life? Do you ever get tripped up by quick emotional reactions, impatience, worry, or wanting to take it easy rather than doing the work?
There is a better way. The Jesus way. Jesus says I am the way, the truth, and the life. Whenever we are unsure of which way to go, call on the name of Jesus. Read the words of Jesus. Look at how He approached and worked in the lives of the people He encountered. Jesus is the roadmap and the guide. We will travel many places in this life. With each place we visit, or where we dwell, we have the opportunity to plant seeds that point to Jesus.
“The Lord said to me, “This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it. It is to remain shut because the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered through it. The prince himself is the only one who may sit inside the gateway to eat in the presence of the Lord...I looked and saw the glory of the Lord filling the temple of the Lord, and I fell facedown...The Lord said to me, “Son of man, look carefully, listen closely and give attention to everything I tell you concerning all the regulations and instructions regarding the temple of the Lord. They alone are to enter my sanctuary; they alone are to come near my table to minister before me...They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean...They are to keep my laws and my decrees for all my appointed festivals, and they are to keep my Sabbaths holy."
Ezekiel 44:2-5, 7-8, 13, 15-16, 21, 23-24, 28-30
Jesus said that He is the gate. He is the fulfillment of scripture. He is the prince alone who may sit inside the gateway. He is the one who opens the door for us to dwell in the presence of the Lord and have the Lord indwell us. God gives us advice through the Ezekiel. He says three things. Look carefully, listen closely, and give attention.
How could you apply each of these to your daily life? How could you look, listen, and give more? When you look at your life do you feel hurried or at peace? Do you build margin to be able to carefully examine what you are planting or do you feel rushed when you are doing what you do each day? The flesh says hurry, the Spirit says slow down. Jesus was never in a hurry. Even when Lazarus died, He took days to get to His tomb. Why do we hurry? Does hurry help us produce a righteous crop? What are we teaching others about the holiness of God when we hurry through life? God says keep my Sabbaths holy. Are you observing the Sabbath and honoring Him? Are you receiving the blessing of allowing Him to refresh your soul so that you have the strength to plant spiritual seeds?
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ...Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
Galatians 6:1-5, 7-9, 14-15
As you draw closer to God there can be a temptation to evaluate how others are living compared to how you are living. This can lead to judgment and division. Paul says restore people gently, but watch out that you not allow yourself to be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, but don't become someone who is burdened. How do we do this? How do we develop hearts that encourage but don't get ensnared in sin? How do we do what we can to help others without becoming doormats for other people's emotional baggage?
One great piece of advice is to set healthy boundaries on unhealthy relationships. We can apply Ezekiel's truth to Paul's encouragement. Look carefully, listen closely, and give attention. God will never give you more than you can bear nor does He call you to help people who do not want to be helped. Paul says test your actions and carry your own load. How do we do this? Allow the Holy Spirit to guide our lives and give us the wisdom to know when to sit and when to stand, when to rise and when to rest, when to plant and when to harvest. As Solomon says in Ecclesiastes there is a time for everything under the sun. He is saying make sure to maintain balance in your life so that you don't ignore your own burdens or other's burdens nor get bogged down by them either.
There is a truth that has never failed and that is you will reap what you sow. Jesus told the parable of the Sower. He said the word of God is the seed that will produce the greatest harvest in your life if you till your heart and let God's word grow. Paul says that every word, every action, every moment we are making decisions that are planting seeds. He says that you can plant seeds of the flesh or the spirit. That's it. One or the other. What are you planting more of each day? How could you give greater attention to planting spiritual seeds that will produce the crop God desires for you? Make no mistake you are harvesting what you have sown. The good news is today is a new day and now is the best time to plant something that will produce a heavenly crop in your life.