Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.

— John 4:36

The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.

— Luke 10:2

to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.

— Acts 26:18

And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.

— Romans 8:28

3 I thank my God every time I remember you.

4 In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy,

5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now

— Philippians 1:3-5

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, peace and joy to you!

God builds His kingdom through a network of people who care about eternity and people. God is calling us to invest in His harvest of souls. Whether we pray for someone for many years or offer a passing comment in a daily conversation, God weaves our investments into His harvest in His time. We should not take credit for what we are privileged to speak into people’s lives to reap or sense failure when visible results seem few. We simply keep on sowing God’s Word as the seed of life. Only eternity will measure the fruit. God can be trusted with whatever we invest in His kingdom.

The Lord faithfully invites us into deeper faith and His kingdom. God may rob us of self-sufficiency and draw us to Himself. He may bring us into situations that can reveal our desperate need for what only God could provide. As we live and pray for those we love, let’s ask God to use whatever it takes to build their faith in Him. God controls what we cannot. He works in ways that reveal both our lack and answers we need. No matter what we face, our highest calling is to trust God. He causes all things to work together for our good as we are called according to His purpose and we love Him.