Working With The Lord Of The Harvest

July/August 2009 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Working With The Lord Of The Harvest

I have a poster in my office that was designed and printed by a Christian friend. Under the picture of a farmer sowing seed it reads: “We can’t expect a harvest if we don’t sow the seed.” Recently, the Lord used it to renew my appreciation of His call for us to work with Him in spreading the gospel.

He did it by bringing these verses to mind to deepen the poster’s message: “A farmer went out to sow his seed” (Mk. 4:3 NIV). “The seed is the Word of God” (Lk. 8:11). “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow ... We are God’s fellow workers” (1 Cor. 3:6,9). “Look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest” (Jn. 4:35).

We often think about telling others about our Savior. We spend hours talking with friends about the lost condition of those we know. We even pray that someone might reach them for Christ. The next time we do any of these things, let’s remember the personal pronoun in my poster: “We can’t expect a harvest if we don’t sow the seed.” It’s a warning if we don’t; it’s a promise if we do!

We are called to sow His seed. This means He wants us to tell others about Jesus, who is the Word (Jn. 1:14). And the result of telling others is the harvest of souls. If we don’t sow, we miss the joy of the harvest. It’s that simple.

The fields of the unsaved are all around us. They’re not in some distant land, but in our classrooms, workplaces and neighborhoods. God is calling us to join Him as “fellow workers.” He’s given us the only seed that produces the harvest of souls, but we must sow it to take part in that harvest.

So let’s get on with it. Let’s tell others about our Savior, and leave the results with Him. After all, He is “the Lord of the harvest” (Mt. 9:38).

By Larry Ondrejack