35 When you plant, you always say, ‘Four more months to wait before we gather the grain.’ But I tell you, open your eyes, and look at the fields. They are ready for harvesting now. 36 Even now, the people who harvest the crop are being paid. They are gathering crops for eternal life. So now the people who plant can be happy together with those who harvest. 37 It is true when we say, ‘One person plants, but another person harvests the crop.’ 38 I sent you to harvest a crop that you did not work for. Others did the work, and you get the profit from their work.”
“There is a really big group of people ready to be told about God.” Marissa, 12
“Jesus gives you strength to talk to people you do not know.” Melinda, 10
“Sowing involves many steps. In preparation for planting, a farmer disks the soil, which loosens and kills most weeds. Similarly, many people travel through tough times, which unbeknownst to them, prepares them to receive the Word of God. This humbles man and destroys pride. Farmers let the ground set, which hardens it. Then, they will disk it again. After that they add nutrients and test the soil to see if it’s conducive for seed. This is like God testing us to see if we are ready to accept Jesus into our hearts.” Kirsten, 11
To act like Jesus, you must learn to think like Jesus. It begins by seeing people as a great harvest that Jesus wants to bring into his kingdom. Jesus is building his eternal kingdom. God wants all Christians to serve as ambassadors for his kingdom.
What can we learn from seeing people as a harvest for Jesus? If you want to talk to a farmer, don’t try it at harvest time. When crops are ready, farmers work hard to get them out of the fields. They work long, hard hours during the harvest season.
If you live to be 70 or 80 years old, what is that compared to forever? The length of our lives on Earth is like the short time of harvest when a farmer must work quickly to take his crop out of the field.
Good crops come from a process. The farmer must plant the seed on fertile ground and water it before it can grow. After it grows, he must harvest it at the right time.
The process of growing food is like the way we should work to bring people to Jesus. Sometimes, all you can do is plant a seed. Some small thing that you say or do can cause a friend to think about Jesus.
Watering a seed could be like having a longer talk with a friend about Jesus.
Harvesting is like leading your friend to trust Jesus Christ as his or her savior. They are born again spiritually into God’s kingdom. God sends the Holy Spirit to live inside of them.
You have to be alert to know whether you should plant a seed, water or harvest. The gospel seed may have already been planted and watered by other Christians. Your friend may be ready to trust Jesus Christ as savior. All you need to do is explain that eternal life is a gift to be received, not a reward to be earned. Jesus paid the price for our sins when he died on the cross. God raised him from the dead after three days in a tomb. Now, Jesus offers eternal life to all who believe in him alone as their savior.
Think about this: It’s harvest time. If your friends are ready, urge them to trust Christ as their savior today!
Memorize this truth: “But I tell you, open your eyes, and look at the fields. They are ready for harvesting now.” (John 4:35b).
Ask this question: If you’re a Christian, are you willing to join God in his great, global harvest?
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