| Whatsoever
Things Are True
by Dan Coburn Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church pastordan@mtida.net I am fascinated with farming, especially this time of year. I am fascinated with how God blessed this area with an incredible amount of food to share with the rest of the world. I am fascinated with how many things are beyond the control of the farmer, and still he faithfully prepares the ground for the next year's crop. The ground is generally on a rotation which varies from farmer to farmer. One of the things common to most of these rotations is a season off, or fallow ground where nothing is planted to allow or even promote the ground recovering. Let's turn the Spiritual switch. Many of us lament from time to time that God is not doing enough around us or through us. We agonize (not an overstatement) when our various ministries are not bearing fruit; at least not the quantity we think ought to be produced. I'm not talking to the Casual Christian who is satisfied to attend Church chronically, throw a couple dollars in the plate and call it good. I'm talking to the Christian who has reconciled his or her-self to the fact that God has chosen them from eternity past (Eph. 1:4) to reconcile a lost and dying world unto God (2nd Cor. 5:19-21) and that to that end, He has Gifted them with Every Spiritual Blessing (Eph. 1:3). That they will never be sent anywhere He hasn't gone before, and that He will never leave them nor forsake them. This Christian, after absorbing these Spiritual Truths, ready to charge Hell with a water pistol, sees many wondrous fulfillments of God's promises and then when God seems tardy or even absent, this Christian's world collapses. He/she is much like Fallow Ground, anxiously awaiting next season's bountiful harvest while a casual onlooker gifted with criticism, may well scoff at the barren field, calling it worthless. Three points. 1) If you are saved, you have a ministry. It isn't something reserved for the preacher or the Priest. "If you are a Christian, you are either an evangelist or an imposter" Charles Spurgeon. 2) Never feel useless. If you have sinned, Repent and move on (1st John 1:9). After Jesus fed the five thousand, He sent the disciples across the Sea of Galilee assuring them He would join them later. A great storm came up so violently, the disciples feared for their lives. Point = you can be just where Jesus told you to be, doing exactly what Jesus told you to do, and you will still encounter storms. 3) God only addresses "fallow ground" twice in the Bible, and both times are a warning or better admonition to break up the ground that it might serve its intended purpose. Feel useless? Prepare to be broken up and bear fruit. God Bless. |
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