"I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor."
As I read this, I felt my heart sank because I walk through life so scatterbrained! One minute the focus is on my coffee, the next e-mail, classes, work, the pretty day, converstions and before I know it I have lost track of my original thought, just like what happened with this sentence. When in reality, I need to be present in the moments, not thoughts.This scripture touches on a core of Christianity, the Great Commision. "Go and make disciples of every nation, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19) While that sounds wonderful, I know I am not about to jump into a lake and dunk a person in. Sorry that's just not my calling in life and I fear those who don't handle water well, I would not handle well.
But when reading John, it's not about going out and preaching at people or grabbing them to 'send blessin's' on them. It's about being obedient to the Holy Spirit's work in YOUR life. We don't know who has come before us and laid a foundation covered in prayer for a person. We don't know who has been challenging someone with scripture. We don't know where people's hearts are with God, whether believers or not. But we do know what the Holy Spirit asks of us.
I used to think the Great Commission was a procedure followed by all Chrisitans alike and that it was fool proof.
Step 1: Profess to someone you are a believer.
Step 2: Share, in detail, your tesitmony with them. Make sure you spice it up to keep them interested!
Step 3: Make sure they are aware how amazing it is to be saved and convince them they too need salvation.
Step 4: They should be weeping at this point and asking for you to pray with them as they accept Christ.
Step 5: Pray and congrats you earned a soul!
Step 6: Repeat until you earned all the souls!
Now, when I see this written out, I realize how silly it sounds, because all of those steps require me, not God. I still don't fully understand the witnessin' chat with folks, but I do know that God needs to be present. If He is not moving in their hearts, what is going on?
So, if it is not a formula, what is it? It is walking life. It is showing others how we live through Christ. Not just me but we. It requires a body of believers to show this world God's love. When we enter in with Christ, we are starting on a path with several others who have gone before us and on this path, there are reapings along the way that we did not start. It made me aware to be obdient to Christ in this season because I do not know who has labored before me and what God needs me to do where I am. That is where I feel John 4:38 is taking me this morning. It is challenging the realization that sometimes it is about being obedient to the Spirit and what others have done before. Trust and recognize that others have come before. Continue what has been started!
Thought to take: Does God have me in a place right now where I need to be reaping what others have been praying and working for?
