Preparing and Planting

What are you sowing? Are you sowing the gospel of Jesus Christ? How much do you sow? Do you sow the seeds of the gospel everywhere you go? Do you know that not all seeds take root and grow into a fruitful plant?

Sowing the seeds of the gospel may seem difficult or challenging. After all, we have all run across people who do not want to know the truth. We know people who are hardened by the hatred of this world. We know people who have been wronged and will not listen to reason.

In many ways, people are like the soil of this earth. They must be prepared to receive the seed of the gospel. If they are hardened, we must spend time plowing the ground, turning it over and softening it. We may need to plow the ground multiple times. Some people may never soften their stance. They have become rocky soil and the seed will never take hold and grow.

Some people will soften. It may take years of work, but they will eventually let go of their grudges, hatred, and unforgiveness. When we see them do so, it becomes even more rewarding to see our hard work and patience pay off.

There are some who are already willing to accept the seed. Perhaps they have been prepared by others. Planting the seed and seeing it begin to grow happens quickly. There is much rejoicing in heaven when they come into the kingdom.

We can prepare the ground and sow the seeds of the gospel at all times. That doesn’t mean we only speak of Jesus directly. We can speak of the benefits of knowing Him and accepting Him as savior. We can speak of love, joy, peace, and contentment. We can speak being relieved of worry, anxiety, fear, anger, and hatred. This is plowing the field to prepare it for planting.

I pray we all go about preparing others to accept Jesus. I pray we sow the seeds of the gospel wherever we go. I pray each one of us go about doing the work God has set before us. Prepare people for the gospel. Plant the seeds of Jesus. Sow seed wherever you go. Go about the work God has prepared for you.

2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

Ripe for Harvest

What do you know about farming? Do you know about preparing the soil? Do you know about planting the seed? What about fertilizing? Do you know when it is time to harvest the crop? Have you seen the signs of the times?

Jesus used a farming analogy several times during his ministry to teach the people. Most of us will understand the basics of preparing the soil, planting the seeds, fertilizing, and harvesting. Why does Jesus use this analogy when speaking of people?

Because it works! Think about it. Have you ever had someone speak an idea, you initially discard it, later consider it, and then decide to follow it? Have you ever used this method to entice someone else to do something you want them to do? I have…and I bet you have, even if you have not consciously thought about it.

Seeds get planted all the time. We plant seeds with our words. We have the option of planting good seed or bad seed. Which is why our attitudes and what we fill our hearts and minds with is so important. If we are filled with God, we will plant good seed.

In today’s passage, Jesus says the fields are ripe for harvest. He is telling His disciples that someone else has planted. In their case, Jesus is pointing to the prophets. But this applies to us as well. In our case, it is all our predecessors who have taught about Jesus. There is always a crop ready to be harvested.

Jesus says we are to open our eyes. See those who are ready to accept Him for who He is. This means also opening our ears, listening to what people say. Truly listening and seeing people will help us identify the crop that is ready to be harvested. When we identify them, we gather them into the kingdom of God.

I pray we all open our eyes to see the harvest. I pray we listen intently to what people say. I pray each one of us seeks to be a helper in gathering the harvest that has been prepared for us. Be attentive to others. Listen to their words. See the ripe fields. Be a harvester. Bring people into the kingdom of God.

John 4:35 “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.”

Put God’s Word Into Practice

How well do you put words into practice? Do you believe actions are better than words? Do you readily adhere to good advice? Will you put God’s Word into practice?

Jesus doesn’t pull any punches. He plainly states that putting His words into practice is wise. The illustration He uses is one of preparation. Let’s make no bones about it, there is a storm coming. Will we be prepared?

Jesus says those who put His words into practice will be prepared for the storm. If we put His words into practice, we will be standing when the storm is over. What storm is coming?

We may think of the storms of this life. It is true that we will face storms in this life. Evil exists and does whatever it can to cause us to trip, fall, and succumb to its will. By putting Jesus’ words into practice, we are prepared for those attacks.

But I believe Jesus meant there was a far larger storm coming, while not diminishing the storms we face in this life. I believe He is referring to the storm of storms when He shall return to claim His own. Those who put His words into practice will be gathered by Him, while those who do not will be destroyed.

There is no gray area. We are either for Him or against Him. We either adhere to His Word or we ignore Him. We will either stand at the end of time or be destroyed.

I pray we all choose to put Jesus’ words into practice. I pray we decide to follow His advice. I pray each one of us remains standing when Jesus returns to claim His own. Heed Jesus’ words. Put His words into practice. Be prepared for the storms of life. Be prepared for the final storm.

Matthew 7:24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

Do As God Guides

Are you following the plan today? Are you doing what God planned for you today? Are you listening for His voice today? Are you willing to hear what He wants you to do and do it? Will you be in God’s will today and every day?


We have lots of demands put on us. There are demands from our boss. There are demands from our teacher. There are demands from our spouse or dating partner. There are demands from our parents. Yet, how many more demands do we put on ourselves?


We put as many or more demands on ourselves as others do … every day. Some come from our innate desires. Some come from our learned desires. Some come from our desire for self-improvement. Some come from our desire to be accepted. All are self-generated. But what can we do about them?


We can simplify our lives. We can reduce the demands we put on ourselves. We do that by listening to God and His direction for us. When we are doing what God wants us to do, our life becomes simpler. God has specific tasks He wants us to do. Many of those are written in His Word, in the Bible. Yet there are also many that come to us through His Spirit—from that quiet inner voice. We are to listen and do what He wants us to do.


I know, many of you will say “I don’t hear that voice.” Folks, if you don’t hear that voice, I suggest you slow down, set aside some quiet time, and pray earnestly to God to help you hear His voice. We fill our days with so much noise that we often don’t hear Him. When we spend quiet time with God, more than just a couple minutes, we can block out the noise of the world and hear the plan and desire God has for us.


One thing I’ve learned over the years is that it takes practice to learn to hear God. We must learn to block out the worries of this world and focus on God. It’s a little challenging when we first start doing this, but it becomes easier as we continue the practice. In fact, it will get to the point that you can hear God, even in a crowded, noisy restaurant.


I pray each of us will decide to set aside some quiet time today to spend with God. I pray we each do so, no just today, but every day. I am confident that you will hear God if you do and you keep at it. Listen for God. Hear His Spirit talk to you. Do as He guides you. Trust in Him. God is faithful.

James 1:22-24 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

Confidence in Prayer

Are you confident when you pray? Do you believe you will receive what you ask from God? How is your heart? Does it belong fully to God? Are you keeping his commands? Are you doing what pleases him?

Our prayers can be powerful, extremely powerful. After all, God is the all-powerful God. He can do anything. There are no restrictions, no limitations, no impossibilities. What limits the power of our prayers? Us.

It is not our asking that limits our prayers. God has the ability to do whatever we ask. It is our hearts and our actions that limit our prayers. Our hearts must belong fully to God. They cannot be divided among God, our personal desires, and worldly desires. This is our first hurdle to clear. Our commitment to him must be complete.

The second hurdle is much easier once we clear the first one. We must obey his commands. If our hearts are fully committed to God, obeying him isn’t nearly as difficult. Our struggle in obeying him is a heart that is torn between our selfish desires and our desire to obey him.

Have you ever wondered how the apostles were able to miraculously heal people? It was not simply because Jesus gave them power to do so. He gave them power because they were fully committed to Him. Being fully committed, they knew God’s will and were filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit.

No, there is no magical formula to have our prayers answered. It is simple and yet very difficult. We must turn our hearts completely to God so they do not condemn us with guilt, then obey his commands, doing what pleases him. We can do it if we make up our mind to do so.

I pray we all commit completely to God. I pray we rid ourselves of the guilt of disobedience. I pray each one of us will decide to have a heart for God and obey his commands. Know that prayer can be powerful. Commit your heart to God. Obey God’s commands. Do what pleases him. Set aside your personal desires.

1 John 3:21-22 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.

Follow God’s Instruction

What does it mean to you to work? Do you like the work you do? Is your job rewarding? Is your place of work the only place you work? Have you thought about the work you do outside your job? Are you working for God?

We often think of work as the job we are hired for. Working at our jobs are a significant part of the work we do. There are some who define who they are by the job they have. But the job we have does not, and I dare say should not, define who we are.

I submit to you that we all work at many things outside our jobs. Parents work at providing for their children and keeping them safe. We work at cooking meals, maintaining our homes and vehicles, volunteering, coaching, and helping others. We don’t often think of these activities as work, but they are.

So, when we talk about working for God, for the vast majority of us, that work falls into the category of working outside our jobs. It competes with those other activities. But the work we do for God is wider and more comprehensive than all those activities put together.

Working for God includes working on yourself, having an attitude of God, allowing Him to permeate everything we do, praying, seeking to know him better, and all those things listed above. Truly working for God is putting him in the middle of everything we do, including our jobs. It means hearing his instruction and following it.

I pray we all choose to work for God. I pray we hear God’s instruction and follow it. I pray each one of us allow God to permeate everything we do. Hear God’s Word. Read God’s Word. Choose to follow God’s instruction. Allow God to permeate your life. Choose to work for God.

Hebrews 6:10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

Good Use of Knowledge

What value do you put on knowledge? Is knowledge of high importance? Do you earnestly seek to continue to learn? How do you continue your learning? Do you read? Do you attend classes? Do you realize you continue to learn, even if not consciously?

By the time we have completed school, most of us are ready for it to be over. It comes at different times for each of us. For some it is at the end of high school, others a bachelor’s degree, and still others who finish a master’s or doctorates degree.

Formal education is one way in which we learn, but it is not the only way. We learn through on-the-job training, reading on our own, attending seminars, through professional classes, and even during our daily discussions. Our brains continually compile facts, statistics, and data. All of which we call knowledge.

But what good does knowledge do us? It is nothing more that data until we compile it into meaningful information. After that, for it to be truly worth anything, we must put it into action. We can be informed of an impending hurricane, but if we do nothing, continuing to stand in the way of the storm totally unprepared, we will be devasted.

It is no different with the Word of God. We must put it into action. Millions of people have heard of God, many of whom have read at least some portion of the Bible. But unless they put His Word into action in their lives, they might as well be standing on the beach when the hurricane lands.

Jesus tells His disciples they were given the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. We have, too. What are we going to do with them? If we do not put them to good use, we might as well not have them at all. Jesus’ apostles put them to good use, going about doing His work.

I pray we all put God’s Word to good use. I pray we decide to be prepared and to prepare others for Christ’s coming. I pray each one of us will not merely read God’s Word but meditate on it to better understand Him. Knowledge can be good. Information can be good. Putting information to work is good. Put God’s Word to good use.

Matthew 13:11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.”

Working for God

Yesterday we defined faith and learned that it is dead if it is not accompanied by works. Today, we will look at what works are to be done in faith. Have you ever really thought about doing works in faith? If not, who are you working for? Why do you work?

I dare say that most people in our culture work for themselves and their family. They do not think about working for God. They work to feed, clothe, and provide shelter. Though it is relatively common in first-world countries, most of the world does not work for riches but survival.

Those who trusted in God, trusted he would provide for their daily needs…not a bigger house, nicer car, or fancier clothes. Today, many of our Christian brothers and sisters continue to work for their daily needs. But what or who are we really working for? Why?

Paul tells the Christians in Colossae to work as though they were working for the Lord (Colossians 3:23-24). To what purpose? To be a good representative of Him. Christians are to have a good work ethic, putting their very best into whatever they do. It is through our example that we speak volumes about Jesus.

God has set our work before us. That means our jobs and more. He has planned for us to help feed the hungry, clothe to naked, and care for the sick. Though we may not think we are equipped to do so, that is where our faith pushes us into the work. We trust that God will provide. He will provide the resources, knowledge, and desire. As stated yesterday, this is faith-works at its best.

I pray we all perform our work as though we are working for God. I pray we set the example for others. I pray each one of us will put our faith to work in doing the good works God has set before us. Do your best at everything you do. Set the example for others. Put your faith to work. Go about the works God has set before you.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Dead or Alive

How is your faith? What are your works? Do you marry the two of them? Do you consider each of them as one half of a larger whole? Would you consider one to be more important than the other? Does your life reflect your belief?

As Christians we hear and talk a lot about faith. But what is faith and how is it demonstrated? We need to know both the definition of faith and what we are to do with our faith. Our faith cannot be mere believing in God.

We look to Hebrews 11:1 as the definition of faith which says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” That sounds good, but what hope is the author of Hebrews talking about? He is talking about our hope in Jesus Christ and eternal life. We cannot see either at this moment, but we look forward to them.

As we can see by the definition of faith, it is not merely belief that God exists or that Jesus is the Son of God. After all James tells us, “You believe there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” (James 2:19) Faith is far more than believing in God.

Our faith must be put into action. As James states in 2:17, “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Is it any wonder James asks his rhetorical question in today’s passage? In other places in Scripture, action is called works. When to put together faith and works, we have a very nice reminder in a hyphenated word—faith-works.

A dead faith, or mere belief there is a God, does us no good. We are in no better position to inherit eternal life with God than the demons who also believe He exists. Our faith must be put into action. That doesn’t mean just busy work, but truly working to carry out God’s will. More on that tomorrow.

I pray we all have a faith that includes hope in Jesus Christ. I pray we put our faith into action. I pray each one of us seeks to know God more intimately and abide by His will for our lives. Faith is confidence. Faith is hope. Faith is assurance. Faith is put into action. Faith-works. Put your faith to work.

James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?

Cry Out To God

Have you been taught that the Christian life is wonderful? Does that hinder you from crying out to God? Have you ever asked God why things have happened?

Many of us have heard God is love, God is good, God blesses us, and God cares deeply for us. We likely have heard the “prosperity gospel,” meaning if we love God, all will be well with us.

These beliefs may cause us to squelch our desire to cry out to God. They may stop us from asking God why. If they are doing so, we are not fully communicating with God as He desires us to.

God knows things go wrong in our lives. He knows we are sad at times. He knows we grieve. He knows we grow angry. He knows every thought we think and every word we speak. It is because He knows that He wants us to express our worries, concerns, griefs, anger, and displeasures to Him.

Are we to stay in that state? No. But we need to voice them. Not because God doesn’t know, but for our own sake. Voicing them to God gets them off our chest and clears our conscience. Yet, it isn’t only about us.

We should voice our issues for our communities, nation, and the world. We need to repent of the wrongs our leaders commit. I know…that sounds absurd. We didn’t commit the wrong. However, much like the prophets of the Old Testament, we must admit the wrongs of our leaders and ask God to forgive them and change them.

I pray we all cry out to God in our anguish and sorrow. I pray we ask for forgiveness and a renewal of our hearts. I pray each one of us will then trust God to work as only He can. Cry out to God. Tell God your troubles. Tell God your worries. Tell God your griefs. Trust God to take care of them.

Luke 19:41-42 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.”