Sunday Reflections #2 The Harvest

With our youth, we've been preparing them for the upcoming school year and influencing their friends for Christ. Our series has been called "The Harvest," talking about Jesus' parable of the sower in Luke 8:4-8.

Two weeks ago, we talked about plowing. Plowing is preparing the soil for the seed in farmer's terms. In spiritual terms, it means praying continually over those we want to influence. God is actually the one who softens the unbeliever's heart, but it's through our prayer that we also prepare ourselves for the next step.

After we plow, we scatter the seed. In today's day and age, we're generally more careful about where we place the seed, sometimes even poking holes in the ground and putting the seeds in the holes. We are more discerning (thinking we know best) about what soil is best for the seed, more choosy about where to plant. The sower in the parable, however, is scattering seed everywhere, willy-nilly. He is trusting in God that the seed will fall where it needs to, and he doesn't judge which soil is best for growing. We should be the same in sharing our faith. We might think that some of our friends would never come to know Jesus, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't share anyway. As our leader pointed out, three of the soils looked OK when the sower scattered the seed (the good soil, the rocky soil, and the thorny soil). It wasn't until after the seed was sown that the problems in the rocky and thorny soils were revealed.

This week, we focused on what a farmer does after he plants. He, of course, does not walk away from his crop and expect it to grow on its own. Nor does he expect instant growth. Instead, he provides sunlight, water, and nurture. In the spiritual realm, this means continuing to pray over our friends, showing God's love to them, and continuing to ask spiritual questions and probing them about what they believe about Jesus. This part was really scary to the girls in my small group. They think it's scary enough sharing their faith, but to risk rejection again, after there was not an immediate response the first time, is tough. We might be embarrassed, seen as weird, made fun of. But Paul says, "we are fools for Christ." (1 Cor. 4:10) It's scary to be thought of as foolish, but better to be foolish and working to save the lost, than watching our friends walk on paths to hell.

My girls also think that you have to be a wise and eloquent speaker, and know everything about the Bible before you share with others. We've been working on that for several months, but I think Paul (who I always think of as the Rockstar of the Christian world) says it best in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5:

1 When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come with superior eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed the testimony of God. 2 For I decided to be concerned about nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and with much trembling. 4 My conversation and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on the power of God.

So, what are you doing to reap the harvest that is plentiful? Share below how you have influenced others for Jesus.