Christian Commentary Encouraging Devotions

A farmer puts a seed in the ground

and except for some fertilizing and weed and pest control,

maybe some irrigating,

he pretty much waits for the return.

Why did he plant the seed in the first place?

For a response, a result.

He knows what the result should look like.

A mature version of the plant he seeded.

A salesman presents his product.

How? In the best way he can.

Why? For a response, a result.

A sale of the product.

A teacher teaches a lesson.

For a response, a result.

He/she gives particular care to teach for a desired outcome.

Knowing that that outcome can come in different, sometimes unexpected sizes and shapes.

How about the preacher?

He sows seed...the Word.

What does he expect in return for delivering the Word?

A response, a result.

But what will that result look like?

Is it people streaming to the altar?

Partly.

But, and here I quote a pastor,

"All the work doesn't get done at the altar."

The seed is sown.

It might bring a quick response like in Acts 2.

Peter preached a convicting message.

They were pierced to the heart.

They exclaimed, "What should we do?"

There was a massive response to the "altar call".

3,000.

But, like the farmer, the preacher sows the Word

and may have to wait for the response, the result.

One sows, one waters. God gives the increase.

The preacher preaches.

God does what He alone can do,

convicts, draws, arranges circumstances

so that the Word will develop and grow in the hearer.

And His steadfast promise is...

that Word will not return void.

It WILL acomplish what He sent it to accomplish. Isaiah 55:11

I think the important factor for us is...

expecting.

Expecting is another word for believing.

believing that if God has given you the Word...

as you speak it forth...

it WILL accomplish His purpose for it...

in His time.

Another key factor...timing.

The right timing.

Some seed can sprout too quickly and get burnt by the sun

or ravaged by insects, choked out by thorns, any number of bad things.

Allow the Word to gestate.

Let the work proceed that's being conducted in the unseen realm.

Trust God that He knows what He's doing.

Because He does!

Lord, guard the Word, water that Word.

We know there's power in Your Word.

Break up our fallow ground

so that the Word will have a good place to get planted in the first place.

Perform Your promises.

Blow away our misconceptions about what the results are going to look like.

But... help us grow in believing, grow in expecting results.