Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! – Psalm 126:5
The concept of sowing and reaping covers many aspects of life. A farmer sows seed in his field with the expectation that his crops will grow and yield in abundance. A business owner sows resources into his or her enterprise to grow their customer base and yield a profit. A rebel may “sow his wild oats” but can reap harsh consequences. A gossip can sow seeds of discord but may reap a response of animosity or anger. A mother and father will hopefully put lots of effort into raising their children, sometimes through tearful adversity, then give thanks and praise for the sons and daughters who come to love the Lord and seek to serve Him.
In like manner, the believer who loves Jesus as His Lord and Savior will notice those who are in the darkness of disbelief and seek to share the Gospel message with them. Jesus understood that sowing the seed does not always lead to reaping a good harvest. His parable of the sower shows that some who hear the Word of God will reject it; some will receive it with joy but when questioned about their faith will turn from it. Still others will accept it but will be drawn away by the cares of the world and be unfruitful in their faith. However, some will hear the Word, understand it, and it will grow in their lives and bear fruit (Matthew 13:18-23).
If you are one who loves the Lord, be joyful in His Word. If you were blessed with a godly mother and can reach out to her on this Mother’s Day, do so with a heart of gratitude to the Lord. Then, as you think of this nation, pray for the restoration of the godly principles on which it was founded.
Today’s Verse: Romans 126:5
Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Mark 4:13-20
13 And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. 16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. 17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. 18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
