In ministry, there are times that there are tears...whether in frustration, sorrow, tiredness or pure joy...
I thought of this as I read these verses in Psalm 126...there are missionaries that spend decades working with others around the world or their neighbors next door who see the fruit of the seed, the Word of God, fall on the rocky soil or the fertile good soil ....both bring tears....
But, seeing it grow from a seed to sheaves is a miracle to the heart...the blossoming, growing Christian from a one who was once dead to the Word is a joy to see and learn of...
I get letters from missionaries from around the world...people whom I have personally met and others just through the mail...they are planting the seed in so many ways...from crop science to cottage industries to flying planes to vet science to translating the Word to weekly village visits with movies .....and much, much more...sowing in tears....reaping sheaves in some areas and other areas, the seeds are falling on rocky, thorny ground...but they still persist ...sowing...sowing..
They will come forward someday, bringing with them the rewards of a "good farmer", people who have taken the Word to heart... "This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown"....
Each of us have a part in this crop...prayer, giving, going...thank YOU for the joy of seeing seeing the fruits....being a tiny part in the big picture of fruitfulness...
Psalm 126:5-6 Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.
Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.
Matthew 13:19-23 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart.
This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
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