When I consider “Harvest” I think of the community we served which was a major farming community. During harvest time the tomato harvesters would run 24 hours a day to collect the tomatoes. There was anticipation, excitement, but especially an urgency.
Once all the planting, weeding, and watering had been done the harvest begins. One of the results of the harvest is that the crop harvested meets specific needs. Whether it is the financial needs of the harvesters, or the needs of the consumers to whom the product harvested will go.
We plant, we water, we weed the fields that each of us live and serve in with the good news of Jesus. As the good news is embraced by our families and friends we rejoice in the harvest that Christ produces. Sin forgiven, families healed, provisions received, relationships restored.
Jesus said the fields are ripe… ready. There is an urgency. As we remain faithful in planting seed, watering, and weeding, He will produce an amazing harvest. Let it be so.
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Pastor Michael Henderson.
Shiloh Church of God in Christ, Oceanside:
When I think about “The Harvest,” I think about seed that has been cultivated and transformed over time, into precious ripe fruit, now ready to fulfill its intended purpose and destiny. However, the fruit, as ripe and ready as it might be, cannot gather or remove itself from the fields. It must be gleaned by others who, not only recognize its ripeness, but who are also willing to labor for its gathering into the storehouse.
Jesus said, “the harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few.” (Matt. 9:37b) I believe “the harvest” in Jesus’ eyes represents the precious souls of those in the world today who are ripe and ready to be introduced to the love of God, through a relationship with Jesus Christ. These souls cannot be harvested into God’s Kingdom without the help of Christians who are willing to labor in the fields by sharing their faith. May God inspire our hearts to become laborers for His harvest.
