MEMORISE: Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. – James 5:7
READ: Genesis 8:20-22 (KJV)
20 And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Joshua 14-16
MESSAGE:
The time between sowing and harvesting could be short or long depending on the type of seed and some environmental factors. Farmers know this; thus, they are never in a hurry. However, some believers today are of the opinion that they can sow in the morning and reap that same morning. They must remember that the duration of the harvest is dependent on what you want to reap. Some crops can be harvested within three to six months, and others may require more time.
There are set procedures for harvesting. The seed must first die before it sprouts, then within a specified period it grows until it bears fruit. It is only at the stage of maturity that farmers begin to harvest.
As children of God, you must learn to wait. Romans 12:12 says your attitude while waiting must be such that you are always:
“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;”
Sadly, some ‘believers’ are too much in a hurry to take their harvest. They engage in anti-Christian practices and end up burning their spiritual fingers in the fire of lust and greed (1 Timothy 6:10).
The harvest can be in any form: promotion, compensation, recognition of hard work among others. When you are putting in your best in an organization, you must wait for the management to appreciate your devotion to work, and not begin to agitate for it. In fact, what you think is ‘best service’ may just be you being zealous or ambitious.
It may shock you if your employer says your best is not good enough for recognition. This is why you must remain humble and continue to work faithfully. I recall a farmer who hurriedly harvested his yam many years ago; he ended up depriving himself of a bumper harvest as his impatience disrupted the growth potential of the tubers.
Unripe yam tubers are never as delicious as those harvested at maturity.
I pray that as you sow on good ground, your harvest will come bountifully. The Almighty will give you patience to wait for it, in the mighty name of Jesus.
PRAYER POINT: Father, please help me to patiently wait for my day of glorification, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Open Heavens 2021 Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.
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