The World Race is teaching me many things, among them is a deeper understanding of God’s word. Below are some verses that I’ve read before, probably even took some time to ponder over, yet, I never truly grasped their true meaning until now. Our time in Ocotal has given these passages new depth and has created a direct correlation with my own experiences.
“When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else.”
1 Corinthians 15:37 (NIV)
One of our primary ministries has been house evangelism. It’s a very interesting experience, one that can be frustrating at times and wonderful at others. In general a testimony is given followed by a short message of sorts. During these visits there are times when I feel completely like a sower. There we are, a random group of gringos, who have just taken over an entire room of someone’s house and we’ve begun to talk about Jesus. There’s usually no conversation beforehand except maybe an exchange of names and why we’re there. Then we go right into it… “Here is my testimony about how Jesus has changed my life.” Despite the awkwardness we go in with faith that God can use our words, use them in ways that we probably won’t see. We are simply planting a seed and believing that it can take root, believing that God can grow something beautiful out of our efforts, and believing that He will send someone to harvest it when the time comes.
“You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.”
John 4:37- 38 (NLT)
On the flip side, there are times when we are on the other end of the spectrum. Sometimes we go into a house, tell our testimonies, give a little message, and right on the spot someone decides to hand their life over to Christ. It’s moments like that when I have the feeling of harvesting a seed that someone else planted. I feel honored that I get to see what has grown and been harvested, but at the same time I feel like someone, somewhere is being cheated out of seeing the results of their labor.
“I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.”
1 corinthians 3:6-7 (NLT)
Sometimes I am a sower and sometimes a harvester, I am learning to accept whichever role I find myself in. However, the most important thing, more important than planting a seed and reaping it, is knowing that God makes it grow. God and God alone makes it grow into something beautiful and something life changing. Whether I am a sower or a harvester, God is still the mastermind behind it all. It’s truly a blessing to be able to serve alongside Him, to be a small part of his magnificent plan.
Please continue to pray that whenever we find ourselves in an unfamiliar or uncomfortable role, we would accept it whole-heartedly and passionately, knowing and believing that it is all part of God’s will.
