The church that we have been trying out had a message about the walk of Jesus a few weeks ago. The Pastor encouraged us to pick one of the Gospels and read through it, focusing on how Jesus walked. I was reading in John this morning and came across verses 4:34-38. I have read these verses many times but today they hit me in a new and fresh way (Funny how God makes that happen).
John 4:34-39
"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Don't you have a saying, 'It's still four months until harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."
These verses encouraged me to day. We can often go about life trying to share the love of Jesus with those around us, trying to uplift and encourage people and point them back to the truth. We don't always know that we are making a difference. I mean, we hope we are, and sometimes God blesses us with someone who tell us that we make a difference, but we share about Jesus because we want to be those who "do the will of him who sent me." We want others to know that Jesus saves and that a relationship with Him will fill an empty place in their heart in a way that nothing else can. No drug, alcohol, earthly relationship, or good deed can fill that void. Only the love of Jesus can fill it.
Sometimes we get to be the one who shares Jesus with someone who has never hard about him before. Sometime we get to share about the real Jesus with someone who has only been shown religion. Sometimes we get to be the one who speak into the life of someone who already believes but needs to be reminded that their hope, peace, joy, love comfort, and goodness comes from the Lord. Sometimes, we simply play a supporting role while our friends chase after Jesus right along side of us.
We all have a role to play...whether we are the one sowing the seeds of faith..or whether we are the ones who get to witness that moment when someone is saved...we ALL get to rejoice!!! So listen to the call when the Lord places it on your heart to say something to someone. Don't think that they'll think you are crazy...chances are that they already think you are crazy :) ...so say it anyway. You may never know, this side of heaven, what role God has you playing in the lives of others. It reminds me of the song, "Fifteen" by Greg Long. Wherever I stand in line, I've got to make a difference.
Click here to listen to Fifteen
I was sitting at the table
As the waitress took our order
In her eyes, I knew that something wasn't right
And before I saw it coming
I was caught up in her story
Of the storms that she had weathered in her life
My friend said, can we pray for you
She said, I think I'd like you to
She walked away, we bowed our heads
But then he turned to me and said
Chorus:
If it takes fifteen times
To hear about Jesus
For someone to believe
Wherever I stand in line
I've got to make a difference
In case it comes down to me
'Cause, I may be third, may be the seventh
There may be years in between
But what if I'm fifteen
What if I'm fifteen
Just a chapter in a story
With the ending still unwritten
Do they find the truth of Jesus after all
As I listen for the whispers
And I follow where they lead me
I pray that I'll be faithful to the call
If I'm who I'm supposed to be
I know that God can work through me
I may not understand it now
But I believe somehow
Chorus
God I don't want to miss the chances
When you open the door
What may seem so insignificant
You see so much more
Chorus
Go make a difference in the life of someone else today!!!!!!
Good stuff♡
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