Be planters and gatherers

Scripture Reading: John 4:27-42

“Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”
John 4:35

Though we are called to live for God in all kinds of careers and vocations, we have to remember one thing: Jesus calls us all to be planters and gatherers.

He wants folks who work hard together to produce his harvest: the rich variety of people from all nations whom God will welcome into his kingdom.

Jesus wants followers who will risk new plantings and tend the soil patiently till it produces. He wants us to see how our livelihood depends on the harvest. Our hearts must beat for it.

Jesus saw Samaritans approaching after the woman he was speaking with told others about him. Jesus had planted a seed, and it was now yielding a crop.

Unfortunately his disciples were wrapped up in their everyday busyness. While it was fine to go into town to get food for Jesus and themselves (see John 4:8), the disciples paid no attention to the people around them. They ignored the Samaritans’ need to hear about the Messiah.

Let’s not be a church of people who only go about our daily busyness and forget to share God’s love and good news with others.

Let’s be a people who eat, drink, plant, work at, and dream of his harvest!



by Norm Prenger

Are we going on with Jesus?

You are those who have continued with Me in My trials —Luke 22:28

It is true that Jesus Christ is with us through our temptations, but are we going on with Him through His temptations? Many of us turn back from going on with Jesus from the very moment we have an experience of what He can do. Watch when God changes your circumstances to see whether you are going on with Jesus, or siding with the world, the flesh, and the devil. We wear His name, but are we going on with Him? “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more” ( John 6:66 ).

The temptations of Jesus continued throughout His earthly life, and they will continue throughout the life of the Son of God in us. Are we going on with Jesus in the life we are living right now?

We have the idea that we ought to shield ourselves from some of the things God brings around us. May it never be! It is God who engineers our circumstances, and whatever they may be we must see that we face them while continually abiding with Him in His temptations. They are His temptations, not temptations to us, but temptations to the life of the Son of God in us. Jesus Christ’s honor is at stake in our bodily lives. Are we remaining faithful to the Son of God in everything that attacks His life in us?

Are you going on with Jesus? The way goes through Gethsemane, through the city gate, and on “outside the camp” ( Hebrews 13:13 ). The way is lonely and goes on until there is no longer even a trace of a footprint to follow— but only the voice saying, “FollowMe” ( Matthew 4:19 )

by my utmost for his highest