Welcome to Harvest Work!
Hi there! Welcome to Harvest Work! I am so happy to have you here. In this short trailer episode, I’m sharing what Harvest Work means and a brief glimpse at how it will impact our conversation on this show.
The Parable of the Sower
My heart behind this podcast is deeply rooted in the picture Jesus paints for us in the Parable of the Sower:
“A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:3-9)
Jesus goes on to explain that the seeds are the word of God and the growth obstructions we see are the enemy and worldly ways:
“When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” (Matthew 13:19-23)
TRUE GROWTH IS NOT “SELF-GROWTH”
So how do we cultivate that Good Soil in a culture that obsessed with growth, but doesn’t really seem to be doing much of it? The ways of this world only leave our hearts and our minds more rocky and weed-filled. Growth that truly bears fruit, is not culture’s idea of “self-growth”, but instead, growth in Christ. And it requires practices similar to those of a gardener.
GOD, THE GARDENER OF OUR HEARTS
In order to reap a harvest, there will be seasons in our lives of rest and replenishment of the soil, planting seeds, weeding and pruning, fertilizing, nurturing, and tending, patience and waiting.
Rest and replenishment of the soil = sabbath, silence, and solitude (Mark 1:35 Luke 5:16)
Planting seeds = hearing God’s word and working to understand it (Luke 11:28)
Weeding and pruning = denying our desires, dying to ourselves so that we may live in Christ (Galatians 2:20)
Nurturing and tending = growing our relationship with Christ and other believers, sharing any fruit that we may bear and harvest (John 15 Galatians 5:22)
Waiting in patience = trusting in faith that even if we don’t see fruit now, we will reap a harvest when we stay rooted in God’s soil. (James 5:7-8)
THE HARVEST WON’T BE EASY
If you have ever planted a garden, big or small, you probably know that reaping a harvest is no easy task. Not many people are up to the challenge. It takes the hard work of our hands, our minds, and our hearts. It’s often times tiring and uncomfortable. Jesus tells us in Matthew 9:37 that the Harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Meaning that there are more people who need to hear the gospel than those who are willing to share it. The world we live in is desperate for the love and the truth of Christ.
CULTIVATING GOOD SOIL
It is my hope and my prayer that this podcast cultivates a conversation about growing deeply rooted in God’s love and truth, so we are equipped to be Harvest Workers, sharing God’s word with others. Discovering the richness of Good Soil that allows us to stay rooted in Biblical truth rather than being choked out by the weeds of worldly pursuits and cultural trends. May we keep weeding, pruning, and cultivating. May we take root and not be choked out. And may we ultimately, be Workers of the Harvest.