Garden Part 2

God’s Blessings to each reader today! Well, these weeks on the road in the USA are going so fast that it seems like I just typed the story of the Garden! I will endeavor now to do Part 2 of this story. As I said last week, we want to cover the nurturing of the plants in the Garden, as well as the Harvest!

The seeds have been planted in that prepared soil. The sun is shining brightly! God’s Grace is so good and plenteous, that He supplies all that we need. These newly planted seeds are like the newly born Christians, ones that have repented and believed the Gospel. The Bible says of these in 1 Peter 2:2 (KJV)
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Newborn children naturally can only handle milk. No solid food. New seedlings in the garden can only handle a little bit of water, not a whole flood at once. New seedling could not hold up to too much water, or they would uproot and be destroyed.

New believers also cannot hold up to too much strong talk or learning.
We must remember to use much grace in our speech, and so much the more to the new born babes in Christ! Ephes. 4:29 (KJV)
… but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
There will be time later to move on to teaching the deeper things in the Word of God. Do not expect the young to be able to handle too much! Give them time to grow in the Grace and Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Lord will continue to do the work that is needed, just be willing to be one of the ready tools in the tool shed. Be ready to work in the Garden of God’s Love and Grace. Be ready to nurture the newborns in Christ!

In the vegetable gardens that we keep, we are well knowledgeable that there is a time to plant and then much later a time to harvest. Eccles. 3:2 (KJV)
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
Why is it then that sometimes in Christianity, we want to see people repent as soon as we start to preach? The planting (sowing) is when we begin to preach to a group or individuals. God word will not return void, it will do what it will if it is preached in truth and purity. Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Do not be worried about the Harvest on Planting day. However, by the same token, do not neglect the harvest. This is important work. Luke 10:2 (KJV)
Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

Notice how the Word says His harvest. This is not ours. It is the Lord’s Harvest. God does work through the agency of man however. Men are the laborers.

It is my prayer that each living child of God, would be willing laborers in His Kingdom. All the various jobs need doing. We must be willing to turn to His Word, keeping all things in perspective according to the Bible, as go forth as His servants.

Are you and I willing, faithful, obedient servants? I pray that we would be, because the Lord is coming soon, and He desires that man would be saved. Oh that much sowing, watering and nurturing, would take place in the day of Grace, so that when it is time for His Harvest, many souls will be eternally saved!

Have a most Blessed Week!

Please pray for our annual Apostolic Lutheran Church Convention which is this week!

John