One of the great joys that I have as pastor of CLF is to watch God work. I love what God is doing in our church. People are coming to faith and declaring their desire to follow Jesus (see Tara Pierce’s baptism this past Sunday). There are young people eager to follow Jesus and serve Him. There are marriages that are thriving and showing longevity (see Dwayne and Patti Ottinger celebrating 60 years!). There are group leaders who faithfully lead their people to Jesus and care for them (spiritually and relationally). Our people give faithfully. Sing loudly and lean in when God’s Word is preached. What a great place to serve.
But if you’re like me, you can get easily discouraged and dissatisfied. There’s always more to do and more we want to see accomplished. When our kids were little, Jill would get them a small plant to teach them how to garden or grow things. Each morning, they would come downstairs, look at their plant, and not see much growth. You could feel their impatience and frustration. I think that’s me many times. Each week, you do the same thing (ex, prep a sermon, pray for growth, and preach) and the growth seems little or small (if I notice any at all). Sometimes, I think that’s what gets us. We pour into our kids…and see little change, and we get discouraged. We share the gospel with someone and…nothing, and we get discouraged.
However, in the parable of the farmer in Mark 4:26-29, notice how he doesn’t worry about the growth. He faithfully plants and goes to sleep, trusting in God to bring the harvest. Our job = faithfully demonstrate and declare the gospel. God’s job = bringing the growth and the harvest.
Think of all the areas in your life where you need to faithfully sow seed:
- Parenting: Deuteronomy 6:4-9
- Conflict resolution: Matthew 5:23-24, 18:15-18; Galatians 6:1
- Faithfully demonstrating and declaring the gospel: Matthew 5:16; Romans 10:14-15
- Neighborhood: Romans 12:13; Hebrews 13:2
- Marriage: Ephesians 5:22-25, 32
- Spiritual disciplines: Psalm 119:9-16; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Here’s what we do in each of these areas and more: we faithfully do what God’s word calls us to do. This is farming. Then we go to bed, trusting that God will grow the seed. In God’s time, He will bring the fruit.
Since we are all farmers, here are two things for you to think about:
- One is a play on words and a theme song (thanks, Perry): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8rL5bTZpes
- One is how Paul Harvey talked about a farmer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRDaPEaDJ7E
School starting:
With that in mind, let’s talk about school starting. Umpqua Valley Christian School started last week. Geneva Academy and Roseburg Schools started this week, along with many in our county. We have administrators, teachers, faculty, and students represented in various places around our county. Let’s pray that they would demonstrate and declare the gospel and that God would use their planting of gospel seeds to bring a plentiful harvest.
Unbelief & presumption:
On my sabbatical, I asked the Lord to reveal to me why I struggled with unbelief and pessimism. I don’t know if you wrestle with these things, but I find myself asking these kinds of questions: Why would God answer my prayers? Why would God provide for that need? Is this too big a thing to ask God?
I realized that some of my unbelief (not all) came from overprotection from presumption. I have never wanted to presume upon God. What I mean by this is that I am terrified of taking His grace, mercy, or patience for granted in a way that leads to careless, arrogant, or disobedient living. I don’t want to have an attitude of entitlement toward God’s goodness without a healthy fear for His holiness. You know what I mean? Further, I never want to fall prey to a false gospel that says, “because I did this, God is obligated to that.”
However, where this can catch up to us is when we see promises in God’s word that we should believe. Promises like “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5) or that He will provide for all our needs through Christ (Philippians 4:19 and Romans 8:32).
Ezra:
This Sunday, we will begin a new sermon series through the book of Ezra. We’ll study Ezra 1:1-11. Part of the reason for this book, at this time in our history, is to see how God fulfills His promise to His covenant people and how He works through them to accomplish amazing things.
Cheap Seats:
- Well, the pennant races are coming down to the wire. Less than 25 games left. The Rangers decided to go on a little run, and the Mariners decided to go on a slide. But let’s all root against the Astros…
- The NFL season begins Thursday night with the Philadelphia Massacre (Cowboys at the Eagles)…see my pessimism come out.
- I really thought Kalen DeBoer was going to work out at Alabama. I’m not sure how to take that debacle in Tallahassee last week.
Have a great week!
Christ is King!
Dave York
