Sowers and reapers should rejoice together!

 Fun day on outreach. Here is a story captured today.  

Picture of him a month or so ago

Interesting, sometimes reapers seem to be in the spotlight, while the sowers are under valued. In the Kingdom both are important. Jesus stated in Marks gospel, "If you don't understand the parable of the sower and the reaper you won't understand any parable of the Kingdom." This is a stunning statement.

Jn 4: 34
Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

Do you not say, "There are yet four months, then comes the harvest"? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.  

Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and 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."  

One translation says, "Other have done the hard work and you have entered into their labor."

Both are important. Sowing and Reaping. The key to the parable in Mark is to continuously sow the Good News by the means of words, actions, deeds, and in attitudes.  

Ever noticed the tune can be right but the tone can be wrong. People intuituvely know the difference. I refuse to pray for people if I'm irritated, angry, or frustrated by their behavior. Sometimes it's calming down on the inside before I pray, checking my heart and attitude.

That's why love is the foundation, and why serving, sowing with the attitude found in Jesus described by Paul in Philippians 2 and 1 Cor 13 is so important. 

Humility, kindness and love are the means by which seeds should be sown and people drawn into the Kingdom. 

Reapers often ask great questions, wonder their way into hearts, and proclaim the Good News with boldness. Now is the day, and now is the time is often the nudge people need to open their heart to the Good News. 

Both sowing are reaping are the sides of the same coin. No sowing = no reaping. No reaping, if we only sow. The good news, the really good news is that God the Father, by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, is the one who brings the increase.