The Harvest Is Coming

“The Kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed into the ground; and he sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed springs and grows up, but he does not know how. For the earth brings forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full grain in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come” (Mark 4:26-29)

While you and I sleep and rise, in the cycle of daily life, the growth of the Kingdom of God is taking place under the watchful eye of the Harvester.  This unseen work of growth is the Lord’s: “As you do not know how the bones grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so you do not know the works of God who makes all things. In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not withhold your hand…” (Ecclesiastes 11:5,6). 

The preaching of the Cross, considered such foolishness by the world, is the greatest work upon earth. Jesus spoke a parable of the mustard seed, considered insignificant and unimportant, but which becomes the greatest of herbs when planted in God’s field. This is Jesus – despised and rejected – but His death and resurrection produce an eternal Kingdom which shall never pass away, bringing healing and rest to our sin-weary world.

God is always at work in ways we may not see or know. But what we do know is that our labor is never in vain in the Lord…. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).  One day soon a Trumpet will sound and we’ll know, the Harvest has come. Keep sowing.

(Devotional by Lisa Cataford)