Never Stop Planting

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16-NIV

Jesus went on to say:

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17 NIV 

Jesus told this to a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who had been visiting Jesus in secret at night. He came at night to avoid being seen as a follower of Jesus, in the eyes of his fellow Pharisees.

In that same conversation Jesus also said:

“Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” John 3:3-4 NIV

Nicodemus later asked Jesus, “How can this be?”

“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things?” John 3-10 NIV 

The Pharisees were very knowledgeable of the law and the Torah, yet our Lord couldn’t understand how they would not know or teach this very basic concept.

What are we forgetting to share? Are there spiritual concepts we feel are so basic and so well known, that we refrain from sharing or teaching them? Jesus made everything simple.  It was his desire not to exclude anyone from his teachings, from his company, and from his Father.

Simple scriptures, which we all know well, can be just the ones that need be said to plant the seed of the word into a non-believer’s heart.

Jesus later said to his apostles:

“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.” John 4:35-37 NIV

It’s our job to plant the seed of the word whenever possible.

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” 1 Peter 3:15-17 NIV 

No scripture can be repeated so often that it doesn’t need be heard again.  Whatever seeds we can plant, so that the fields Christ speaks of above can be harvested, are the right ones.

One of Jesus final reminders to his disciples was this:

“Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  Matt 28:20 NIV

Remember, brothers and sisters, if ever hesitant for any reason, to share the Word with anyone – a little bit of knowledge of the Word, with a lot of passion for the Word- makes a successful witness.

Barnabas

 

Special thanks to Barnabas for this guest submission.