Your Daily Devotional for March 20, 2006

March 20, 2006

 

The Joy of Harvest

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

"When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."

Psalm 126:1-6

 

In this passage, we see that the Psalmist was rejoicing in the release of Israel from the captivity of Babylon. Although they had sown in tears for 70 years, they were now free to go back to their homeland they loved.

 

The Psalmist makes reference here to the effort and pain that is put forth in the sowing of crops. It is there, out in the field, that the laborer's persistence is tested. As the beads of sweat form on his brow from the scorching sun, he stoops to make indents in the dirt and plant the precious seed, carefully filling in the hole before he moves on to yet another. Although fatigue sets in and the muscles begin to ache, there is a determination in the planter's eyes and a purpose in his efforts.

 

Although there was pain in the sowing, the harvest was coming. Even though it seemed hard at the time to think that anything good could come out of the effort, when the harvest comes it will have been worth it all. The joy of harvesting the grain would be much greater than the sorrow of planting! It is because of this thought that the labor does not seem so hard.

 

There are times when planting seeds can be discouraging. The rain might not come when you desire it, the sun might scorch the new sprouts, and the birds might get into the crops. But when finally the fruit is collected, the joy the fruit brings is far more in proportion than the problems and troubles that entail the time spent in planting

 

Soul winning can be very discouraging at times. Witnessing to your neighbor, your co-worker, your friend.all of these can be stressful and frustrating. The truth is often refused. People do not want to hear what God has given them. Often the "seeds" of God's Word are dried up by lack of encouragement, eaten by other priorities, or wasted by the wrong understanding of the truth. The effort you put into leading a soul to the Lord might seem wasted.

 

But when Christ calls us home and the harvest is gathered, what a joy it will be to see the seeds you planted alive and well! What a blessing to see the souls watered with the gospel now in heaven because of what you were able to do and say through the grace of God! This makes the sowing worth it all.

 

When Christ comes back and gathers His children, will you have fruit to your account? Will you have the joy of knowing that God has used the seeds you have planted to bring forth the harvest? There is no joy in the harvest if nothing is planted. 1 Corinthians 3:7-8 says this: "So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour." Plant some seeds today and see what God can do to bring forth the increase. You will be glad that you did.

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