Day 27: 40 days in the Word: The Fields are Ready

Have you ever felt discouraged when your efforts to share your faith don’t seem to make a difference? Jesus reminds us that there is more happening than we can see—and that every role in His Kingdom matters.

Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.  Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.  Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.  I sent you to reap what you have not worked for.  Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”– John 4:35-38

These words of truth, spoken by our Savior, remind us that there are sowers and reapers, and they are both glad.  We can become discouraged when it seems like all of our efforts to lead people to the Lord appear to have failed.  However, we may be the ones sowing the seeds, and someone else gets to see the harvest.  There may be times where we get to reap what someone else has toiled for.  Either way, we need to remember that the fields are ripe for harvest and it is our honor to take part in our King’s work and to help bring more people into His Kingdom.  Whether we sow or reap, we will rejoice when we are able to see the ultimate harvest in heaven.

Where might God be calling you to faithfully sow seeds without seeing immediate results—and how can you trust Him with the harvest?

Prayer:  We thank You, Lord that You have blessed us with the honor of harvesting for Your Kingdom.  We ask that You help us to not become discouraged when we aren’t able to see our loved ones or friends come to you the way we’d like.  Helps us to remember that some are sowers and others are reapers, but that we all will rejoice together when we’re able to see the harvest in heaven.  Give us the strength and the courage to boldly work for the ultimate harvest. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.