-Strength for Today- "Sowing Spiritual Seed." - John 4:34-38.
When Jesus’ disciples prayed Him, “Master eat,” (verse 31), but Jesus said unto them, “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish it” John 4:34. From Jesus’ disciples' point of view, Jesus was tired and weary from His long journey, (John 4:6), and was in need of “physical food” to provide His body with “energy and strength.” But “spiritually speaking,” the "food" of our “spirit” is the “will of God.” Jesus was “tired” and “weary” from a long journey, (John 4:6), yet, simply following the “will of God,” gave Him “a spiritual boost.”
When we consider the idea of God as the Creator. Because He created us for a “purpose,” and that “purpose” is “His will,” then it makes sense that we feel best when we're “accomplishing that purpose.” Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3 when being tempted by Satan. His comment then was that "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" - Matthew 4:4.
There’s more to our lives than simply keeping the “physical body running;” because, our purpose is “beyond this world.” We’re not going to feel “right,” unless we're living out “His purpose.” And we can't help but feel refreshed when we've made progress on behalf of “the One who created us.”
Think about everything that contributed to the story of how you came to know “Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.” It's probably not possible to fully count all those “spiritual seeds” God used to draw you to Him. And not all the people who sowed “spiritual seed” into your life knew what the outcome would be.
Today, we also have the “opportunity” and “privilege” of sowing “spiritual seed” into the lives of our “friends, co-workers,” children,” “grandchildren,” or “even strangers.” God takes what you plant and adds to it. He leads others to sow further seed or "water the ground.” And little by little, “truth gets cultivated in their lives.”
So, when you sow into their lives “the things of God” and “the qualities of Jesus,” you're “feeding their spirits,” “views of God,” and a desire to make a difference for Him in the world, that will produce “genuine fruit” and a “great harvest in their lives.”
Whether or not you ever see the results, God is using you profoundly when you sow this kind of crop. God sees all “the little things you do;” He's interested in more than just "big things.” The fruit of His Spirit such as, “kindness,” “patience,” and “self-control,” often manifest itself in “quiet ways” that others may “never give you credit for.” But such “spiritual seed” accomplish powerful work in “His kingdom.”
Author: Plez Lovelady, Jr. PhD