meanwhile, the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” but he said to them, “i have food to eat that you do not know about.” so the disciples said to one another, “has anyone brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “my food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. do you not say, ‘there are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? look, i tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. for here the saying holds true, ‘one sows and another reaps.’ i sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” [john 4:31-38]
the disciples often missed the happenings in the spiritual realm that Jesus spoke of because they were so focused on the physical.
instead of the harvest of wheat which turns white when ready for harvest, Jesus spoke of a harvest of people’s souls.
just like Jesus met with His Father, when we meet with God and feast on His goodness, we are so full that it overflows.
“Jesus said to them, ‘i am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.’” (john 6:35)
sometimes, in our obedience, we will share the good news of the gospel, but we may never see them come to saving faith. we may not share yet experience the Lord remove hearts of stone and replace them with flesh right before our eyes.
no matter the outcome, we aren’t the hero. we are called to be obedient to the Holy Spirit’s prompting and to join in on the work that the Lord is doing around us.
~ natalie schmidt