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May 24, 2023
Sowing and Reaping a Life-Time Harvest
I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. So both will be rewarded for their own hard work. (1 Corinthians 3:6-8 NLT)
My precious child, a farmer, knows if he sows corn, he’s not going to reap tomatoes – no! If he sows corn, he will reap corn. (Galatians 6:7) John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, was also a missionary – went all over the northeast part of the United States planting apple seeds. If you go to Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia, and Ontario, Canada, you might get to see some of the orchards he planted. (Luke 8:5, Mark 4:3) He became an American Legend while he was alive because he was so kind and generous.
Whatever it is you are planting, that is what you are going to receive. If you sow unkindness – people will be unkind to you. If you sow love – you will be loved. If you sow gossip – people will talk about you. Just like a farmer, you will always harvest what you plant. If you sow to satisfy yourself, you will receive death from the sinful nature, but if you live to please Me, your Heavenly Father, you will reap everlasting life in the Spirit. (Galatians 6:8) So, whatever you do – don’t get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time, you will receive a harvest of blessings if you don’t quit! (Galatians 6:9) Johnny took Appleseed and planted them in the late 1800s and early 1900s in many states. Think about this: Anyone can count the seed in an apple – but only God knows how many apples are in a seed – year after year, after year!
There was a farmer named Edward Kimball, who was a Sunday School teacher. He witnessed to a shoe salesman named D.L. Moody. D.L. Moody seen to a man named Fredrick D Meyer. Fredrick D. Meyer witnessed to a man named Wilbur Chapman. Wilbur Chapman witnessed to a baseball player called Billy Sunday. Billy Sunday became an evangelist and went throughout the east coast hosting revival meetings – many came into My Kingdom. He went back home, and they begged him to return. He couldn’t. Instead, he sent a young man – a disciple he had led to Christ – his name was Mordecai Ham. Remarkably few people came to his revival meetings except one little boy who accepted Christ as his Savior and his name was Billy Graham. Billy Graham impacted the world for the Kingdom of God. It all began because a Sunday School teacher witnessed to a shoe salesman.
Every time you witness, you are either sowing or watering a seed that has already been planted, but it is God who always brings the increase. (1 Corinthians 3:6) It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. (1 Corinthians 3:7-8) There is power in a seed! Become a Seed Sower and watch God bring the increase!
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