Increase still comes from God
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Faith Fitness
Bro. Sam Kaufman
Jesus expresses a sense of urgency in discussing the harvest with his disciples.
The time is now – not later – to exert maximum effort to reach souls for the Lord. Sowing the seeds of truth will pay off!
In many instances, the one who sows may not see the fruit appear right away. But the seeds must go forth. Some will fall on good ground and produce fruit.
Paul states in I Corinthians 3:6 that he planted and Appollos watered, but it was God who gave the increase.
The increase still comes from God. But God needs those who will labor in sowing and watering. That means we share the gospel through various means – however God dictates.
The Word of God will serve its purpose. God’s love will hit its mark!
For me personally, one of the best locations to witness for Jesus is Walmart. The opportunities seem endless – sometimes akin to the lines to make your purchases.
One night a couple of years ago we made a routine trip there. My two sons and I noticed a young man outside the store sitting in a wheelchair that belonged to Walmart. He was in no way handicap, but found himself a comfortable spot to sit.
The young man was obviously troubled with life. He aimlessly moved back and forth in the wheelchair as we struck up a conversation.
My intent that I felt from God was to simply share the joy and love of Jesus with this young man. That included me and my two sons – about 8 and 10 at the time- – cutting up with him and having fun. We wanted to let him know that we loved him, and that God loved him – that he was important to us.
We had fun with him. At one point, the kids walked to the outside vending machines and bought him a Mountain Dew or two.
We talked for a while and shared the Word of God.
Then the police arrived! Two officers drove by us and parked their vehicles. They walked up to the young man and began talking to him. They asked me who I was. I told them we just met the young man and were trying to witness to him.
The police cuffed the young man and took him away.
I had written my phone number on a piece of paper and handed it to him before the officers arrived.
My wife and our two daughters had been waiting in our van in the parking lot for more than an hour while we talked to the young man. Of course, she read me the riot act when we came back. “What took you so long?” is usually the first question that comes forth.
But she was much more understanding about a year or so later when we received a call early in the morning from a community correction center in Mobile.
It was the young man! He told us he served some time and was about to be released. He said what got him through his prison time was the conversation and fun we had outside Walmart that evening. He thought about it often.
His intention was to now stay clean from drugs and be a productive member of society.
The young man did just that after getting out. He began a trucking career, was able to purchase his own semi, got married, and has a family. He said he is thankful to God.
In Isaiah 55:9-11, God states, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”
Jesus said in John 4:35-36, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.”