³⁴ Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. ³⁵ Do you not say, ‘Four months more, then comes the harvest’? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. ³⁶ The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. ³⁷ For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ ³⁸ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” (John 4:34-38)

Dear brothers & sisters in Christ,

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior. Amen.

We are workers together for the sake of the Gospel. Together, the whole church on earth goes about the business of sowing and harvesting under the direction of the Holy Spirit. We share that privilege with the rest of the church. This endeavor requires trusting God and fellow believers throughout the world.

Unlike the planting and harvesting of vegetative crops, which complete their growing cycle in the span of months, souls take much longer. It is extremely rare to see this particular crop grow from start to finish. This crop grows over the course of lifetimes.

We plant the seed in some and witness the harvest in others. Those moments usually seem more noticeable to us. Most of the time, we simply witness the Spirit causing undramatic growth in those around us. It can feel a little bit like staring at the corn during July, trying to determine how much it grew since the day prior. Just like micromanaging corn during July can lead to unnecessary worry and anxiety, micromanaging spiritual growth markers can do the same thing for both the workers and the crop.

The Spirit is leading us. The path may not be exactly as we imagined or even planned, but the Spirit has greater resources than just our little corner of the world. Sometimes we plant, sometimes we reap, sometimes we grow by little bits and pieces – but Holy Spirit always guides and manages. Praise be to God!

The grace and peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

                                                                      In Christ,

Pastor Carla