While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. Genesis 8:22 KJV
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. Hoseah 10:12 KJV
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 2Corinthians 9:6 KJV
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:7-9 KJV
I had the strangest thing to happen to me a week ago. Last year I planted a full size garden in my back yard. In addition to the garden plot, I also intermingled vegetables within my flower beds. After all, vegetables are flowers. I planted several perenial plants but I often forget what I have planted.
I noticed a plant growing along the side of my house that kept growing taller every day. I wondered what it was and when it was going to flower. Eventually, it did get some flowers on it, so I was contented. My husband obviously did not care much for the plant because during one of his yard work episodes, he decided to pull the plant up. I think that he thought that it was a weed. Actually, it turned out to be carrots.
He brought these huge, swollen carrots in the house and I was amazed that I had actually grown carrots. You see, the year that I planted the carrots, they yielded no fruit that I knew of. These carrots were 6 inches long and at least 2 inches in diameter. I hope that you are able to visualize how big these carrots were. As I sat there looking at them, I saw a spiritual principle playing out right before my eyes.
I had planted the seeds that would yield carrots and I had nurtured them for an appointed time. They probably yielded fruit the first year that I planted them, but I was not familiar with cultivating carrots. Apparently, I nurtured them for a sufficient period of time and then they were able to fend for themselves, replenish and reproduce after their own kind. So, I planted carrots and I reaped carrots.
There were some issues along the way, however that we need to work through. First of all, I planted the carrots without fully understanding the nature of the carrot and what was required to reap a harvest. However, regardless of my shortcomings, I was able to bear fruit. Often times we hold back from doing a work for the Lord, because we think that we don’t know enough, or we don’t have enough, or we are not holy enough. Listen to me, if you sow the seeds of righteousness and good works, they will produce fruit. Of course, you gain knowledge as you go so that you get more efficient at sowing a particular seed. I now know what a carrot plant looks like, so if I intermingle it in my flower bed again, I will be able to spot it from a mile off. So it is with us, we must be able to recognize the good results of our sowing so that we can understand what we did right and what needs to improve.
Secondly, the time to reap the harvest of carrots came at the same time every year, but I did not recognize that it was harvest time. As a result, I left the fruit in the ground for too long. How often do we sow seeds of righteousness and good works but never go out to reap the harvest? How often do we just let the fruit go bad in the ground. My carrots were huge but they were so tough that they were no good for eating. When the time comes to harvest the fruit, we must harvest the fruit. We must continue to sow and when we see the plants peaking out of the soil, we must watch to know the day that we must pluck them from the ground. Do not leave the fruit in the ground until it becomes useless.
Thirdly, since I did not harvest my own fruit, someone else harvested it in my stead. In this instance, the fruit was no good but sometimes others will reap a meaningful harvest of our work. We also reap the harvest of another man’s work. We typically do not grow our own food anymore. We do not make our own clothes anymore. We did not and could not die on the cross to pay for our own sins. Every day we reap the harvest of salvation. The lesson in this is that we need to sow seed for others to benefit from and not just ourselves. We need to tend the garden to insure that the fruit is good to be picked by whoever needs it.
Fourth, I did not know what seeds I had sown but I knew that I had only sown good seed. When we sow good seed, the benefits to ourselves, our family, and others is tremendous. We should sow bountifully, righteously, and prayerfully. Then when the fruit is ready to be picked, we must reap mercifully. We should look around to see where the need is and distribute according to the need. Also, when we sow good seed, anyone can partake of the harvest.
Sowing and reaping is a Spiritual principle that God established directly after the flood. He has promised that there will be seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night while the earth remains. This applies to every area of our lives in which we desire to see fruit. If you are single or married, man or woman, child or adult you must sow to obtain the desired harvest. Our actions must be deliberate, we must chose the seeds with care. Once they are in the ground, we must nurture and care for them until they grow and can stand on their own.
Is there an aspect of your life in which you think that you are not getting the desired results? Examine the seeds that you have sown. If you have sown good seeds, have you taken the time to care for them? If you have cared for them, are you harvesting the fruit in the right season? If you are harvesting in the right season, are you doing it with mercy? Who is benefiting from your labor besides yourself? Wherever you are in life, you have sown to get there.
© 2009 Michelle Fuqua
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
A Peculiar Treasure Unto the Lord
Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. Exodus 19:5-6
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 1Peter 2:9-10
When the time came for the children of Israel to be delivered from Pharaoh’s hands, God delivered them by His own hand, by His own might, and in His own time. He inflicted judgment upon Egypt and brought deliverance to Israel so that the world would know that He is the Lord that brings you out. He desired for the children of Israel to remember where He had brought them from and where He was taking them to. God desired to bring His chosen nation unto Himself, into a close relationship. Ultimately, He desired to bring them and all nations back into their original relationship with the Father that was destroyed through sin.
Our heavenly Father took considerable time to give the children of Israel the law and instructions on successful living. The choice to live according to His commandments, statutes and judgments was theirs to make. God offered them a special place in His heart as His peculiar treasure. A peculiar treasure is kept close so that none can take it away. It is looked upon with appreciation and handled with care. A peculiar treasure is a valued possession that is owned by the one who designed, created, and manufactured it. The owner sets the guidelines for how His treasure will be viewed and handled. The owner of a peculiar treasure sets the guidelines for how His property will behave.
God desires to have us as His peculiar treasure. Did you know that you were a treasure unto the Lord? But He desires that you be a peculiar treasure unto Him. This means that He desires that you be His very own treasure, His special possession. It is clear that God loves all of humanity but all of humanity does not hear and obey. When we decide to hear His voice and obey His Word, then we become a peculiar treasure unto Him.
God is looking for some men and some women who will keep His commandments. He is looking for some people who will seek Him diligently, with their whole heart, soul, and mind. He is looking for some people that will earnestly wait for Him. Our Lord is looking for some people who will live out the blood paid covenant that has been established by Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God. Jesus Christ, by His shed blood has brought us back into covenant relationship with God the Father.
This is not a mandatory covenant, but rather, it is a covenant of choice. Jesus tells us that whosoever comes to Jesus and hears and obeys His word is like a man who digs a deep foundation and lays it upon rock so that when the flood comes, his house is able to endure. When we choose to live according to the Word of God, Jesus becomes our foundation and we can endure the trials of life. Additionally, Jesus says that whosoever does the will of the Father which is in Heaven, is His brother, sister, and mother. We become blood relatives with the Savior by doing His will. Finally, He tells us that whosoever will come may come and freely take of the water of life. This means that we can freely receive of the Holy Spirit so that we can hear God clearly, respond courageously, and act powerfully. But we must decide to be a “whosoever”. A “whosoever” is a peculiar treasure, a special possession and we must make the choice to be a peculiar treasure unto the Lord.
The first step to becoming a peculiar treasure is salvation. The bible tells us that we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ. We are saved by a word of faith. Romans 10:9 tells us that when we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe with our heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, then we are saved. Have you confessed the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord of your life? Do you believe that God raised Him from the dead? If your answer is no, do it right now. The day of your salvation has come. Your life will never be the same. You have the opportunity to become a peculiar treasure unto the Lord.
Once you have accepted the salvation that comes through your confession and belief, there are continuous levels of growth along your Christian journey. Based on your belief, have you chosen to obey His word? Have you examined your life to see what the weight and the sin is that besets you? Are you looking unto Jesus for guidance and strength to live the Christian life? Are you praying, meditating, studying, and fasting so that you can lay a solid foundation in Christ Jesus? Are you talking to Him, thinking about Him, learning of Him, and seeking Him so that you can grow your relationship with Him.
Relationships get stronger through open, honest conversation that allows the development of knowledge. Proper knowledge of God, leads to a love relationship that compels us to obey. Obedience allows us to be a peculiar treasure unto the Lord. Peter continues this thought when he tells us that we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; so that we bring glory to God who has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.
God loves us unconditionally, and He has given us His Son so that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but will have everlasting life. Jesus has already paid for us with His blood. We are His. Therefore since we belong to Him, let us make our choice. We are a treasured possession, a peculiar treasure, so let us make the choice to truly be a peculiar treasure unto the Lord. When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal savior, we have taken the first step. When we build our relationship with the Lord through prayer, meditation, study, and fasting we are on our way. When we obey His word out of love as opposed to religion, we are heading in the right direction. This holy quest to be a peculiar treasure unto the Lord encompasses our whole life. Let us continue on this lifetime journey of seeking to be a peculiar treasure unto the Lord.
© 2009 Michelle Fuqua
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 1Peter 2:9-10
When the time came for the children of Israel to be delivered from Pharaoh’s hands, God delivered them by His own hand, by His own might, and in His own time. He inflicted judgment upon Egypt and brought deliverance to Israel so that the world would know that He is the Lord that brings you out. He desired for the children of Israel to remember where He had brought them from and where He was taking them to. God desired to bring His chosen nation unto Himself, into a close relationship. Ultimately, He desired to bring them and all nations back into their original relationship with the Father that was destroyed through sin.
Our heavenly Father took considerable time to give the children of Israel the law and instructions on successful living. The choice to live according to His commandments, statutes and judgments was theirs to make. God offered them a special place in His heart as His peculiar treasure. A peculiar treasure is kept close so that none can take it away. It is looked upon with appreciation and handled with care. A peculiar treasure is a valued possession that is owned by the one who designed, created, and manufactured it. The owner sets the guidelines for how His treasure will be viewed and handled. The owner of a peculiar treasure sets the guidelines for how His property will behave.
God desires to have us as His peculiar treasure. Did you know that you were a treasure unto the Lord? But He desires that you be a peculiar treasure unto Him. This means that He desires that you be His very own treasure, His special possession. It is clear that God loves all of humanity but all of humanity does not hear and obey. When we decide to hear His voice and obey His Word, then we become a peculiar treasure unto Him.
God is looking for some men and some women who will keep His commandments. He is looking for some people who will seek Him diligently, with their whole heart, soul, and mind. He is looking for some people that will earnestly wait for Him. Our Lord is looking for some people who will live out the blood paid covenant that has been established by Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God. Jesus Christ, by His shed blood has brought us back into covenant relationship with God the Father.
This is not a mandatory covenant, but rather, it is a covenant of choice. Jesus tells us that whosoever comes to Jesus and hears and obeys His word is like a man who digs a deep foundation and lays it upon rock so that when the flood comes, his house is able to endure. When we choose to live according to the Word of God, Jesus becomes our foundation and we can endure the trials of life. Additionally, Jesus says that whosoever does the will of the Father which is in Heaven, is His brother, sister, and mother. We become blood relatives with the Savior by doing His will. Finally, He tells us that whosoever will come may come and freely take of the water of life. This means that we can freely receive of the Holy Spirit so that we can hear God clearly, respond courageously, and act powerfully. But we must decide to be a “whosoever”. A “whosoever” is a peculiar treasure, a special possession and we must make the choice to be a peculiar treasure unto the Lord.
The first step to becoming a peculiar treasure is salvation. The bible tells us that we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ. We are saved by a word of faith. Romans 10:9 tells us that when we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe with our heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, then we are saved. Have you confessed the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord of your life? Do you believe that God raised Him from the dead? If your answer is no, do it right now. The day of your salvation has come. Your life will never be the same. You have the opportunity to become a peculiar treasure unto the Lord.
Once you have accepted the salvation that comes through your confession and belief, there are continuous levels of growth along your Christian journey. Based on your belief, have you chosen to obey His word? Have you examined your life to see what the weight and the sin is that besets you? Are you looking unto Jesus for guidance and strength to live the Christian life? Are you praying, meditating, studying, and fasting so that you can lay a solid foundation in Christ Jesus? Are you talking to Him, thinking about Him, learning of Him, and seeking Him so that you can grow your relationship with Him.
Relationships get stronger through open, honest conversation that allows the development of knowledge. Proper knowledge of God, leads to a love relationship that compels us to obey. Obedience allows us to be a peculiar treasure unto the Lord. Peter continues this thought when he tells us that we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; so that we bring glory to God who has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.
God loves us unconditionally, and He has given us His Son so that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but will have everlasting life. Jesus has already paid for us with His blood. We are His. Therefore since we belong to Him, let us make our choice. We are a treasured possession, a peculiar treasure, so let us make the choice to truly be a peculiar treasure unto the Lord. When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal savior, we have taken the first step. When we build our relationship with the Lord through prayer, meditation, study, and fasting we are on our way. When we obey His word out of love as opposed to religion, we are heading in the right direction. This holy quest to be a peculiar treasure unto the Lord encompasses our whole life. Let us continue on this lifetime journey of seeking to be a peculiar treasure unto the Lord.
© 2009 Michelle Fuqua
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