Farming for Jesus - Part 4 of 4
Farming for Jesus (4 part series)
This will be a four part devotional series.
The four parts are;
Cultivating
Sowing
Growing
Harvesting
Farming for Jesus - Part 4 of 4
Harvesting
“Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.”
Matthew 12:33
Have you ever waited too long to pick a tomato from a vine? Ever picked one too early? Ever have a garden get overgrown with weeds? Insect problems?
Usually the tomato that sat on the vine too long has rotten spots or a hole where a worm entered. The early one is bitter. The overgrown garden has bugs, insects, too much water or not enough light.
Harvesting a crop occurs when the seed has produced the crop. The crop is the example of all that has been put in to getting the right results.
Harvesting has to be done or the crop will become too ripe. The farmer has to watch as the crop is produced. He has to keep insects, disease and animals away from stealing his crop. And he has to wait for the right time to harvest the crop. Only when the crop is just right can it be harvested.
Farming requires knowledge, patience, experience and hard work.
Once a tree begins to blossom the fruit comes soon. I’ve watched peach blossoms in their purple and pink beauty as a tree begins to show signs of fruit to come.
Apple and pear trees do the same. They produce a beautiful flower in spring and fruit is soon after.
It’s a sign of a healthy crop when you start to see the fruit or vegetable or seed being produced. Anticipation begins, because now all the hard word, commitment and sacrifice is about to pay off. You will soon see the reward.
In your relationship with Jesus Christ, harvesting is when you will see the benefits and blessing of a Christ-centered life and others will see the growth in you. Your fruit will encourage and strengthen others. You will have the growth needed to apply the things that have been cultivated within you to overcome life’s obstacles.
This is why it is so important what you put into your life, biblical principles, Godly advice, encouragement, discipline and obedience are so critical.
The Bible is the only place that will show you the way to live your life centered around Christ. Once you have eternal salvation, the Holy Spirit will begin to work inside of you and your growth and walk with God will flourish. People will begin to see positive changes in your life - a harvest of good measure.
You will get exactly what you put into this life, but the rewards are so much greater for your soul eternally when you put Christ at the center of it.
Prepare your life properly. Plant Jesus Christ into the center of it, grow the relationship with Him properly and watch the fruit of His guidance be an example for others.
I hope you enjoyed this series.
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
John 15:5