Plant Carrots, Harvest Brussel Sprouts?

Galatians 6: 1-10

⁷ Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. ⁸ Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ⁹ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.  (Galatians 6:7-10) 

In the Broadway play, The Fantastics, popular in the 60s and 70s, there is a line in a song sung by two farmers: “Plant a carrot, get a carrot – not a Brussel sprout. That’s why I like vegetables, ‘cause you know what they’re about.” You can’t plant carrots and hope you will have a harvest of Brussel sprouts.

These words are parallel with today’s reading, “A man reaps what he sows.” 

            Sowing to the sinful nature, or the flesh, brings a harvest of destruction.

            Sowing to the Spirit reaps eternal life.

Just as we can’t reap one kind of vegetable from a different one, neither can we reap eternal life by following our sinful nature.

Let’s be about the business of sowing good to all leading to an eternal harvest.

 

Matthew 9:35-10:23

The Matthew text for today contains three verses many of us will find familiar, chapter 9:37 (The harvest is plentiful...), 10:18b (Freely you have received...), and 10:16 (I am sending you out like sheep among wolves...).  When preparing this devotional I was trying to decide which one to develop.  But, it seems to me they are related and all about reaching out to those who do not know Jesus.

1. Matthew 9:37 reminds us there are so many who are lost and just roaming this world hopeless and empty.  We as believers are being asked or perhaps commanded to go into the field and work to harvest these souls.
2. Matthew 10:8b points out our salvation has been achieved by the mercy of Jesus, it was nothing we did to deserve forgiveness and receive Jesus' love.  We did not earn it but this gift was given for free.  It is up to us to share with everyone who will listen.
3. Matthew 10:16 find Jesus reminding the disciples they are like sheep among wolves when they enter the harvest fields. He tells them to be shrewd like a snake but innocent as a dove. 

When I first learned about having a personal relationship with Jesus, that is just what it was - personal.  I clung to it, kept it to myself and just enjoyed to new feelings of peace and safety.  Before long I wanted to share this with those around me.  Compare it to finding a good book and wanting to tell others so they to can enjoy it and maybe we talk about it together and enjoy it all over again.

I would never keep a good book to myself, why would I keep Jesus a secret?


To read the entire text for today click here.