Why You Must Keep Sowing Even When You Are Sad

Psalm 126:5–6

May those who sow in tears
reap with shouts of joy!
He that goes forth weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.
rsv

There is nothing sad about sowing seed. It takes no more work than reaping. The days can be beautiful. There can be great hope of harvest. Yet Psalm 126 speaks of “sowing in tears.” It says that someone “goes forth weeping, bearing the seed for sowing.” Why is he weeping?

I think the reason is not that sowing is sad or that sowing is hard. I think the reason has nothing to do with sowing. Sowing is simply the work that has to be done, even when there are things in life that make us cry. The crops won’t wait while we finish our grief or solve all our problems. If we are going to eat end of the month or have enough for retiremet, we must get out in the field and sow the seed whether we are crying or not.

This psalm teaches the tough truth that there is work to be done whether I am emotionally up for it or not, and it is good for me to do it. Suppose you are in a season of heartache and discouragement, and it is time to sow seed. Do you say, “I can’t sow the field this season, because I am brokenhearted and discouraged”? If you do that, you will not eat in the future. You won't be blessed in the future.

Suppose you say instead, “I am heavy hearted and discouraged. I cry at breakfast. I cry if the phone and doorbell ring at the same time. I cry just reading the newspaper. I cry for no reason at all, but the field needs to be sowed. That is the way life is. I do not feel like it, but I will take my bag of seeds and go out in the fields and do my crying while I do my duty. I will sow in tears. I will keep doing that which I must do on a day to day basis. I won't stop just because I am sad.”

If you do that, the promise of this psalm is that you will “reap with shouts of joy.” You will “come home with shouts of joy, bringing your sheaves with you,” not because the tears of sowing produce the joy of reaping, but because the sheer sowing produces the reaping. We need to remember this even when our tears tempt us to give up sowing.

The great novelist George MacDonald counseled the troubled soul, “Bethink thee of something that thou oughtest to do, and go to do it, if it be but the sweeping of a room, or the preparing of a meal, or a visit to a friend. Heed not thy feelings: Do thy work.”

So here’s the lesson: When there are simple, straightforward jobs to be done, and you are full of sadness and the tears are flowing easily, go ahead and do the jobs with tears. Be realistic. Say to your tears: “Tears, I feel you. You make me want to quit life, but there is a field to be sown (dishes to be washed, a car to be fixed, people to minister to, a sermon to be written). I know you will wet my face several times today, but I have work to do and you will just have to go with me. I intend to take the bag of seeds and sow.”

Then say, by faith in the future blessing, on the basis of God’s Word, “Tears, I know that you will not stay forever. The very fact that I just do my work (tears and all) will in the end bring a harvest of blessing. God has promised. I trust him. So go ahead and flow if you must. I believe (I do not yet see it or feel it fully)—I believe that the simple work of my sowing will bring sheaves of harvest, and your tears will be turned to joy.”

The Touch Of God

1 Samuel 10:26

Saul also went to his house at Gibeah;
and the valiant men whose hearts God had touched went with him.

Reading these words has moved me to pray for a new touch from God. What a wonderful thing to be touched in the heart by God! There is nothing unusual about the Hebrew word here: it is simply “touch” in the ordinary sense. God touched their hearts.

The touch of God on one’s heart is an awesome thing. It is awesome because the heart is so precious to us—so deep and intimate and personal. When the heart is touched, we are deeply touched. Someone has gotten through protective layers to the centre. We have been known. We have been uncovered and seen.

The touch of God is an awesome thing because God is God. Just think of what is being said here! God touched them. Not a wife. Not a child. Not a parent. Not a preacher. Not a counselor. But God. The One with infinite power in the universe. The One with infinite authority, infinite wisdom, infinite love, infinite goodness, infinite purity, and infinite justice. That One touched their hearts.

The touch of God is awesome because it is a touch. It is a real connection. That it involves the heart is awesome. That it involves God is awesome. That it involves an actual touch is awesome. The valiant men were not just spoken to. They were not just swayed by a divine influence. They were not just seen and known from outside. God, with infinite condescension, touched their hearts. God was that close. And they were not consumed.

I love that touch. I want it more and more. Just recently when I was sitting sipping hot latte at Starbucks in KL I experienced the touched of God just reading His Word afresh. I want it for myself and for all of my people. I pray that God would touch me and all his church in a new, deep way for his glory. I pray this chuch camp we will all expereince the touch of God.

The text says that they were valiant men—“the valiant men whose hearts God had touched went with him.” The Hebrew word carries strength and courage and substance. It must the touch of God that made them so valiant, so strong and courageous.

Pray with me for that touch, won't you? If it comes with fire, so be it. If it comes with water, so be it. If it comes with wind, let it come, O God. If it comes with thunder and lightning, let us bow before it. O Lord, come. Come close enough to touch. Pass through all the way to the heart, and touch. Burn and soak and blow and crash. Or, in a still, small voice. Whatever the means, come. Come all the way and touch our hearts, Lord!

Bone + Marrow; Soul + Sprit

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active and
sharper than any two-edged sword,
and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit,
of both joints and marrow, and able to
judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

nasb

HOW DO WE KNOW WE SAVED? Are we alive in Christ? There is only one instrument that creates, detects, and confirms eternal life in the soul of man; namely, the Word of God. What Hebrews 4:12 says about this Word is, therefore, all important. Consider it with me phrase by phrase.

“The word of God”

The term “word of God” may mean a word spoken by God without a human mouthpiece. But in the New Testament it regularly means a word or a message that a human speaks on God’s behalf. So, for example, Hebrews 13:7 says, “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.” So the “word of God” in Hebrews 4:12 probably refers to the truth of God revealed in Scripture that humans speak to each other relying on God’s help to understand it and apply it.

“Living and active”

The Word of God is not a dead word or an ineffective word. It has life in it. And because it has life in it, it produces effects. There is something about the Truth, as God has revealed it, that connects it to God as a source of all life and power. God loves His Word. He is partial to His Word. He honours His Word with His presence and power. If we want our teaching or witness to have power and produce effects, let us stay close to the revealed Word of God.

“Sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow”

What does this living and effective Word do? It pierces. For what purpose? To divide.
To divide what? Soul and spirit. What does that mean?

The writer gives an analogy: It’s like dividing joints and marrow. Joints are the thick, hard outer part of the bone. Marrow is the soft, tender, living inner part of the bone. That is an analogy of “soul and spirit.” The Word of God is like a sword that is sharp enough to cut right through the outer, hard, tough part of a bone to the inner, soft living part of the bone. Some swords, less sharp, may strike a bone and glance off and not penetrate. Some swords may penetrate partway through the tough, thick joint of a bone. But a very sharp, powerful double-edged sword (sharp on each side of the point) will penetrate the joint all the way to the marrow. “Soul and spirit” are like “bone joint and bone marrow.” “Soul” is that invisible dimension of our life that we are by nature. “Spirit” is what we are by supernatural rebirth.

What then is the point in saying that the “word of God” pierces to the “division of soul and spirit”? The point is that it’s the Word of God that reveals to us our true selves. We don't know who we are and we cannot fathom whatis in our souluntil the Word of God reveals it. Without the Word we are deceived. Only the “word of God” can “judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” as Hebrews 4:12 says.

Practically speaking, when we read or hear “the word of God” we sense ourselves pierced. The effect of this piercing is to reveal the truth of our thoughts and our motives and our selves.

Give yourselves to this Word of God, the Bible. Use it to know yourself and confirm your own spiritual life. If there is life, there will be love and joy and a heart to obey the Word. Give yourself to this Word so that your words become the Word of God for others and reveal to them their own spiritual condition.

Oh, how we love Your Word, Father! It is precious beyond all earthly treasures. Incline our hearts to this Word, and break our bondage to other things. Let us see wonders in it. Pierce through our soul and waken spiritual life. Confirm the marrow of our faith and make us real, through and through. Forbid that we would be false to Your faithfulness, and make us mighty in the Spirit.
In Jesus Name Amen.

All We Will Get Is Mercy, Always

At the beginning of each new day, all we will get from God as believers in Jesus is mercy. Whatever pleasures or pains may come our way in this day, they will all be mercy.

This is why Christ came into the world—“in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy” (Romans 15:9). We were born again “according to his great mercy” (1 Peter 1:3); we pray daily “that we may receive mercy” (Hebrews 4:16); and we are now “waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life” (Jude 1:21). If any Christian proves trustworthy, it is “by the Lord’s mercy [he] is trustworthy” (1 Corinthians 7:25). In the end, when all is said and done, we will confess, “So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy” (Romans 9:16).

So as we face each day, itis good to humble ourselves and take the position of the blind man: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Luke 18:38). Or the position of the leper: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us” (Luke 17:13). And I believe that the smallest seed of true faith in Christ taps all the divine power of mercy—as the slightest touch of an electrical plug to the socket gets all the electricity.

Really? Did Jesus say that? He did. Consider.

In Luke 17:5, the apostles pleaded with the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you” (v. 6). In other words, the issue in your Christian life and ministry is not the strength or quantity of your faith, because that is not what uproots trees. God does. Therefore, the smallest faith that truly connects you with Christ will engage enough of His power for all you need. Moving trees is a small thing for Christ. The issue is not perfection for Christ, but connection to Christ. So take heart, the smallest seed of faith connects with all of Christ’s mercy.

But what about your successes? When you succeed in obeying God, do you no longer need to be a supplicant of mercy? Jesus gives the answer in the next verses (Luke 17:7–10).

Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, “Come at once and sit down at table”? Will he not rather say to him, “Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink”? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.”

What does He mean that after doing all His commands we should still say, “We are unworthy servants”? He means, you never cease to be dependent on mercy. Doing all we are called to do does not make us deserving in relation to God. “Unworthy” after all obedience means humans cannot earn anything good from God. If we get it, it’s mercy.

So in conclusion, remember that the fullest obedience and the smallest faith obtain the same thing from God: mercy. A mere mustard seed of faith taps into the mercy of tree-moving power. And flawless obedience leaves us utterly dependent on mercy. God may withhold some blessings of mercy for our good, if we stray from the path of growing faith. But even this withholding is another form of mercy.

The point isthis: Whatever the timing or form of God’s mercy, we never rise above the status of being beneficiaries of mercy. We are always utterly dependent on the undeserved. God never owes us anything in ourselves. The smallest faith and the fullest obedience receive one thing: almighty mercy.

Therefore can I invite us to stay humble and rejoice and “glorify God for His mercy”!

Choosing To Live By Principles

Scripture

"See how each of you is following the stubbornness of his evil heart instead of obeying me" ( Jer. 16:12)

Observation

We still have a choice, don't we?

Entering the Kingdom of God is not the last choice we will make. It is like entering a football stadium. You get in, but now you still have to choose where you want to sit ... head for the grandstands or to the playing field.

Entering the Kingdom still leaves us with choices.

We can enter the Kingdom of God and be called "Christians" but still follow self-made rules. We can attend church but function according to our own perspective rather than God's. We still must choose by what rules we will govern our lives.

James reminds us that there is a wisdom from above and a wisdom from below. Both are called "wisdom," but they are worlds apart. You choose which one.

Application

We can even be pastors and yet lead our churches according to the wisdom of the world rather than the principles of God. The distinctions do not show up at first, but eventually, they will ... and when they do, the remedies are long and costly.

Individuals must choose. Families must choose. Churches must choose.

How often we determine the value of what we do by how we feel about it. But no longer! I cannot fall prey to that. I must choose according to blical principles, not according to how I feel about about those principle. Beacuse principles will operate whether I agree with them or not. And if I don't live by those principles, I am the eventual loser.

Regardless of how I feel, I will plan to live God's way and stick with it until He tells me differently. I must submit to His thoughts and His ways even if it means that I do not advance according to men's standards. Even if it means that no one notices and I have to live in the shadows, I will be fine with that.

Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for Your principles. They are like gold to me. May I ever treasure your statues and Your ordinances. They are like water to a thirsty soul.

I choose to not just enter the Kingdom, but take hold of it and live it with all my heart. I will not head for the grandstands. I will instead make my life available for your exclusive use until you reward me with eternity.

Note: A deeper understanding on principles and how they operate can be obtained from the sermon "Inside The Mind Of God" available for download at www.agape.org.sg

Friends Or Friendships

Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.

Proverbs 27:5-6

Verbally wounding someone is easy. Cutting them down with our words takes little effort on our part.

Being a friend, though, can be difficult. Friendship takes a commitment to honesty and communication and love. And based on Proverbs, being a friend requires telling the truth—even when it hurts. A friend is more concern for you than just the friendship, so if he must tell you the truth that hurts, he will just have to do it, though with love and sensitivity.

Sadly, though, Christians tend to have a reputation holding back the truth because they are afraid they will lose the friendship. In the process, we simply lie to each other and violate the one biblically ordained way bu which God speaks to us - through our friends.

But if we are going to reach the world for Christ, we need to realize the role that our words play. God wants us to speak the truth in love to everyone, even if it wounds them. Because when we show others that we can be trusted, like a friend, we can make an indelible imprint on their lives today and for eternity.

As you review your relationship with your friends, are you more interested in them or are you just interested in the friendship? Are they truly interested in you as a friend or do they just want
the friendship?

A Prayer for Today

Dear Lord, Sometimes telling the truth is difficult. It's hard to stand up for what is right in your eyes. During those times, I pray that you give me the strength to stand up for what is right and to speak the truth to those around me. Because I know that is the way to gain your approval. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

The above devotional is a small part of a teaching from the sermon "When You Need To Know God's Will Immediately" in the series DISCOVERING GOD'S WILL.

You can download the sermon from www.agape.org.sg.