Prepare for the Harvest

-


Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:3-5 (The Message)

            You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you—keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant.

Devotion:

            Today’s scripture would be right at home here 21 centuries later. According to recent surveys today’s Christian is not holding fast to the faith of our ancestors but increasingly many in the church are turning to doctrines and teachings that have no place in the Christian church. Almost half the evangelicals surveyed agreed with the statement that “Jesus was a great moral teacher, but he was not God.” (thestateofthology.com)

            From queer theology to prosperity theology, there is a theology to tickle anyone’s ears. And with the aid of the internet every new breeze that blows across the theological world attracts instant attention. As seen in the scripture above, spiritual junk food is piled wide and deep across our news sources. Those who preach the true message of salvation, by grace through faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior, are ignored because they are not new and exciting enough.

            What is a believer to do? First, we must pray. This is a spiritual battle, and it will be won by spiritual means. No man-made solution, no program or any solution made by fleshly man will win this battle. We must pray that God raises up for us and indeed from among us men and women who can lead us in this fight for the very soul of the church.

            We know that Jesus will be glorified through his church at the end of all history. Revelation confirms our victory. But that victory may be costly. The reputations, the livelihoods, and even life itself will be at risk, but that’s not too great a price to pay to be seen as a follower of Jesus Christ. We should be mindful of Jesus' words in the Gospel of John 4:35-38. The fields are ripe for harvesting we must pray to God to send more reapers that the harvest may be brought safely home.

Prayer:

            Lord, we see the fields of the great harvest that you have made ready for us to harvest. Raise up workers to go into the fields and harvest the souls you have made ready. May we all be ready to join the workforce of the kingdom. Young or old, new Christian or veteran of many a spiritual battle, God is calling all who name Jesus as their Lord and Savior to go to work. Strengthen every weak knee and faint heart that we all may go valiantly into the harvest. Amen.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcoming the Unwelcome

-
  Scripture: Luke 7:36-38 (NIV) 36  When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37  A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38  As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them. Devotion:             First of all, some warnings to my readers. This post will exceed the 500 words I try to limit my posts. Second, this post will contain content people may find offensive or otherwise unfit for print. Please understand that my purpose is neither to offend nor upset but to provoke thought and, hopefully, respectful dialog.             We will use Luke chapt...
Read more

The Hatred of the World

-
Scripture: John 15:18-20 (ESV) 18  “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20  Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. Devotion:             This scripture is compelling. It explains what happened to Jesus and His disciples some 2,000 years ago. The message of God is rarely welcome news for the world. It calls out many of the culture's favorite practices for what they are: sin. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, humankind has been adamant about trying to hide or excuse their sin. Sin causes a barrier between humans and God that humanity cannot overcom...
Read more

Reflecting on Reformation Day

-
  On October 31st, millions of Christians around the world celebrate Reformation Day, a commemoration of a pivotal moment in church history. It marks the day in 1517 when Martin Luther, a German monk and scholar, nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. This act, challenging the practices and doctrines of the Catholic Church, ignited what we now know as the Protestant Reformation. The Courage to Stand for Truth Reformation Day calls us to reflect on the courage it takes to stand for truth. Martin Luther faced immense opposition and risked his life to speak against the corruption and abuses he saw within the church. His conviction was rooted in a deep understanding of scripture and a sincere desire to return to the teachings of Christ. As we remember Luther's bravery, let us examine our own lives. Are we willing to stand firm in our beliefs, even when it is difficult? Do we seek truth in God's word and let it guide our actions? Script...
Read more