“In Him we live and move and have our being,” as even some of your own people have said, “For we are indeed His offspring.” - Acts 17:28 (ESV)
FALL is in the air!!! Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. Not only does it mark the ending of a vigorous grass-cutting schedule, but it also brings cooler temperatures. Fall is the time of the year when the leaves begin their annual process of changing color and then falling from the limbs to the ground. It also ushers in the opening day of Deer season (Archery Season – October 1!).
As I sit here this morning enjoying the cool crisp morning that greeted us here in South Mississippi today, I am reminded of how incredibly blessed I am to be a child of God. For I was created by God, have been re-created in Jesus Christ, and as a result was adopted into God’s kingdom as a child of God, a joint heir with Christ! It doesn’t get any better than that!
Well you may be thinking, what does that last paragraph have to do with Fall? Can I take a minute to explain?
Fall is a time of harvest! I mentioned earlier that deer season will be opening soon (less than two weeks away now). One of the great joys of the harvest season for the deer hunter is to see the fruit of the Oak tree begin to fall onto the ground. Those acorns become an attractant to the deer population and provide a food source that sustains them throughout the winter season that is fast approaching. For the hunter, the falling of the acorns is an opportunity to experience another harvest. That is the harvesting of a deer, which will in turn provide food for his/her (yes, Melanie is a hunter too) family. One harvest leads to another harvest, to another harvest, etc. No wonder that Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Luke 10:2 ESV)
I guess what I am trying to say is this, at harvest time; we reap the blessings of the Lord of the Harvest. It is in Him that we live, move and have our being - He created us in His image. (see Genesis 1:27) He has re-created us in and through His Son, Jesus – “But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become the children of God.” (John 1:12 ESV) And, He has sent us into the fields to gather the harvest as well – “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;” (2 Cor. 5:18 ESV).
Some of you may remember the text to the hymn, “Bringing in the Sheaves” by Knowles Shaw. What a fitting text to be set to a tune named HARVEST by George A Minor.
Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;
Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows;
Fearing neither clouds nor winter’s chilling breeze;
By and by the harvest and the labor ended,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,
Tho’ the loss sustained our spirit often grieves;
When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
Refrain:
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
As laborers, we must be just as faithful to sow seeds, as we are to reap the harvest. May our prayer be that our Father finds us to be faithful in these days of harvest. Let us also continually sow the seeds so that the harvest will continue to be plentiful in the years to come in the kingdom of God.
In Christ,
Brother Tim