Read Revelation 14:14–20

In cartoons and even serious paintings and movies, death is often personified as a tall brooding figure in a dark robe. This deathly figure carries a scythe, which is a staff with a curved blade used for harvesting wheat and other crops. Thus, the term “grim reaper” refers to this foreboding figure who threatens to steal away life by sheer force.

In Revelation 14, though, it is Christ Himself who holds the power of life and death and is pictured with a sickle for harvesting (vv. 14–16). “One like a son of man” is a messianic reference (Dan. 7:13). He wears a crown of gold, showing His kingship. His sharp sickle indicates His power and authority to judge. A sickle is similar to a scythe but generally shorter in the staff and blade. It can be used more precisely. An angel announces God’s decree, and Christ harvests the earth of His followers. A second judgment follows, this time of the wicked (vv. 17–20). For this one, an angel holds the sickle. Another angel announces a decree of judgment. Grapes are harvested and thrown into the “great winepress of God’s wrath” (cf. Rev. 19:15). Their trampling yields not wine but blood.

The first harvest pictures Christ gathering His believers. There are no negative images. The second harvest is the judgment of the wicked. This imagery is only negative. This is the two-part harvest described in the parable of the wheat and the weeds yesterday. John the Baptist had similarly prophesied that the Messiah would gather His wheat into the barn and burn up the chaff with “unquenchable fire” (Matt. 3:12).

This vision is not time-specific, so we don’t know when these “harvests” will take place. What we do know is that they will perfectly carry out God’s love and justice.

Go Deeper

What images come to your mind when you think of death and dying? Why does it matter that now Christ is the Conqueror of death?

Pray with Us

Jesus, thank You for conquering death. When we are tempted to be afraid of it, give us courage. We praise You that “to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21).

The time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.Revelation 14:15

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Read Matthew 13:24–43

In August 2012, 40 goats were released into a park in Regina, a city in Saskatchewan, Canada. Why? To help control unwanted vegetation. Goats will eat almost anything, including weeds, and naturalists decided to put their habits to good use. Said one: “It’s environmentally friendly, chemical-free, great for the community.”

Too bad that wasn’t possible in today’s parable, in which Jesus gave another agricultural picture of the kingdom of heaven (vv. 24–30). In Matthew 13, we read that a farmer sowed good seeds to grow wheat, but an enemy came and sowed bad seeds to grow weeds in the same field. When the wheat sprouted, the truth was revealed. What to do? Pull up the weeds? No, because that might harm the genuine wheat. Separating one from the other would have to wait until harvest time. Then the wheat would go into the barn and the weeds into a fire.

Later, Jesus explained this parable to His puzzled disciples (vv. 36–43). The farmer is the Son of Man, Himself. The field is the world. The enemy is Satan. The good seeds are the “people of the kingdom,” or genuine believers. The bad seeds are the “people of the evil one,” including counterfeit believers. They are growing side-by-side in this present age. The harvest is the “end of the age.” The harvesters are angels, servants of God.

There are two eternal destinies here. The weeds, “everything that causes sin and all who do evil,” will be pulled up and thrown into a “blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” The wheat are the “righteous [who] will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (see Dan. 12:3). For us now, one lesson is discernment. Not all who say “Lord, Lord” will enter His kingdom (Matt. 7:21–23).

Go Deeper

How can we tell genuine from counterfeit believers? What warning should we take from this parable?

Pray with Us

Holy God, as we try to live well in community, please give us discernment. Guide us to love those who need love, and gently correct those who need correction. Make us more like You.

While everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat.Matthew 13:25

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Read James 5:7–11

What I once wrote in On Waiting Well, I feel now more than ever: “To follow Christ means we yearn at all times in all ways for His return.” The champions of faith in Hebrews 11 “waited in faith, hope, and expectancy, sure of God’s faithful love and of the superior city God has prepared [Heb. 11:16]. They are models for us on our own journeys. When Christ returns, they and we will finally be home.”

Waiting for Christ’s return can be compared to farming, according to today’s passage. As we have seen in this study, the growth of the kingdom of God is like a crop growing toward harvest. It might seem slow, the progress almost imperceptible. But it’s definitely happening and is under God’s sovereign timing and control.

One lesson for us from this is patience (vv. 7–8). We can be eager and patient at the same time. Just as a farmer waits patiently for the rains to come and crops to ripen, so we should be waiting patiently for our Lord’s return. It is “near” or imminent, meaning that it could happen at any time. Patience here includes standing firm or holding on to faith, especially in the face of suffering and persecution (v. 10). Another lesson for us is not grumbling against one another (v. 9). In other words, while we’re waiting, we should live in brotherly love. This honors Christ and exhibits the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22–23).

James draws our attention to two examples to help us obey these two lessons (vv. 10–11). First, the prophets were examples of faithfulness despite suffering. They patiently continued speaking God’s words despite their mostly hardhearted audiences. Second, Job also persevered in faith through suffering. Both Job and the prophets trusted that “The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”

Go Deeper

What are you currently waiting for? How does today’s passage shape this season for you?

Pray with Us

When we focus on Your compassion and mercy, it can change how we wait, God. May we be faithful to follow You, even when it is hard. Help us wait in patience and keep Your commands.

You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.James 5:8

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Read Isaiah 28:23–29

George Washington, America’s first president, said of farming: “Agriculture is the most healthy, the most useful, and the most noble employment of man.” Today’s reading is an Old Testament poetic parable about the kingdom of God and the accomplishment of His plans. In Isaiah 28, God is pictured as a farmer. When farmers do their tasks, they don’t do them mindlessly or repeat them continually for no reason (vv. 24–25). For example, a farmer finishes plowing, then moves on to sowing seeds. Similarly, farmers deal with different types of seeds in the right ways (vv. 27–28). Cumin and caraway seeds are small and delicate and must be threshed differently than other kinds.

The spiritual lesson here is that God knows and does everything in the right way at the right time (v. 29). His plans and actions are “wonderful” and “magnificent.” If farmers know the right way to do their work—by paying attention to God’s created order, we infer from verse 26—then surely we can trust God to know the right way to do His work. Furthermore, if farmers know to vary their processes according to the type of seed and crop, understanding that one size doesn’t fit all, then surely we can trust God to know and do the right thing in the right way at the right time. This includes His warnings earlier in this chapter to the leaders of Ephraim and Judah.

The picture of cumin and caraway seeds being threshed instead of crushed implies that God might judge or punish His people, but He won’t destroy them (v. 27). His faithful covenant love can be trusted, even when His people are doing wrong. The title “LORD Almighty” is a bit generic (v. 29). Other translations render this “Lord of hosts” or “Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” The focus is on His sovereign and mighty power.

Go Deeper

Where have you seen God “threshing the seeds” in your life? In what ways do you need to strengthen your faith that He is the wise Farmer cultivating your life?

Pray with Us

Lord of hosts, we praise You, for we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Ps. 139:14). Thank You for creating each one of us as a unique individual.

All this also comes from the LORD Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, whose wisdom is magnificent.Isaiah 28:29

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Read Mark 4:26–29

The people who owned our house before us planted tulips, a perennial flower. They appear every year, no matter how little we do, and bloom on all sides of our house in a variety of colors. Though we spoke a few days ago of all the work involved in gardening, these tulips take no work at all.

The growing seed mentioned in Jesus’ parable in Mark 4 sounds like that. In yet another agricultural image, Jesus described the entire process of farming, from planting to harvesting. The process is inevitable. These pictures would have been very familiar and ordinary to His audience. What was Jesus saying about the kingdom of God (v. 26)? Just as seeds grow to harvest without human agency, so also does the kingdom of God. The farmer “does not know how” the harvest arrives (v. 27). It’s not that the farmer doesn’t matter, but he cannot cause the growth process to occur. Similarly, the growth of God’s kingdom depends on Him; it does not depend on human beings. It will surely happen, no matter what we do or don’t do, not unlike the tulips above.

We can say with confidence that one of the results of this month’s study is understanding that the death-to-life process seen in seeds is a natural object lesson revealing supernatural truths. This transformation is not the result of human knowledge or effort, but of God’s wisdom and power. The gospel “is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16). The harvest is the consummation of the kingdom. This parable, unique to Mark, shows again that the kingdom won’t come all at once. As we know, the harvest is a time of judgment as well (Joel 3:13). Some sorting will need to be done when that day comes (see Day 29)!

Go Deeper

Where are we in the kingdom process (see Matt. 24)? How close do you think we are to the “harvest”? No one knows the day or hour of Christ’s return, but how do we read the “seasons”?

Pray with Us

Holy Father, we don’t know the time of Your coming, but we do know it will be worth the wait! Thank You for perfectly orchestrating Your plan. We can’t wait to spend eternity with You.

Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.Mark 4:27

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Read 1 Corinthians 15:35–45

As I accumulate birthdays, I’m becoming increasingly convinced of the second law of thermodynamics, that is, of entropy, the tendency of things to decay. I am speaking, of course, of the aches and pains of aging. The knee that throbs. The arthritis in that shoulder. Even the sudden need for reading glasses.

If you share my experience, take heart. Believers in Christ will one day receive a new, redeemed, spiritual body suitable for spending eternity with Him. Again, God takes the principle of you reap what you sow and turns it into something better. Unimaginably better. We sow a body that was destined to decay and die, and in exchange we reap a glorified body that will last forever! What will our future glorified bodies be like? Different (vv. 35–41). Our current bodies are merely seeds. Seeds die and are transformed. Just as different seeds become various plants, so also will there be different, glorified bodies, from people to animals to astronomical objects.

Paul then answered the question of what our future glorified bodies will be like (vv. 42–44). He did so mainly through contrast. Whereas our physical bodies now are earthly, perishable, dishonorable, weak, and natural, our resurrection bodies will be heavenly, imperishable, glorified, powerful, and spiritual. “Dishonor” refers to sin and fallenness, and “glory” to our redemption. “Weakness” refers to the effects of sin, namely, that we’re subject to death; “power” indicates that we’re free from that and will live forever. This transformation is done completely by God’s grace and strength.

God breathed life into Adam, made of the dust of the ground (v. 45). So also will He breathe life into our resurrection bodies, giving them eternal life through Christ’s redemption.

Go Deeper

What are you looking forward to with your resurrected body? What would you like to see change?

Pray with Us

Though we eagerly anticipate the day when we receive our heavenly bodies, may we be good stewards of our bodies right now. Let everything we do be for Your glory.

It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.1 Corinthians 15:44

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Read John 12:23–26

Nineteenth-century preacher Charles Spurgeon once spoke of the importance of surrendering “one’s whole being to the great work of seeking to honour him [Christ]. Oh! I have striven for that: would to God I might attain unto it! I have now concentrated all my prayers into one, and that one prayer is this, that I may die to self, and live wholly to him.”

This “one prayer” is inspired in large part by Jesus’ words in John 12. In the physical realm, a seed must die in order to produce life and come full circle to then produce many seeds (v. 24). The same is true spiritually (v. 25). It’s a paradox: to love life in this world is to “lose” or “destroy” it and gain nothing, but to “hate” life in this world is to “keep” or “guard” it and gain eternal life. Jesus uses the strong word “hate” as a hyperbole highlighting the contrast. Not only should we not place our values in the temporal standards of this world, we shouldn’t try a “hybrid approach” either. We must be “all in” on living for Christ (see Luke 14:26).

Jesus led the way. The context is that the time had come for Him to be glorified, that is, for Him to go to the cross to die (v. 23). He would be the original Seed, and in giving Himself, He would win eternal life for all who believe. “Whoever serves me must follow me,” He said, meaning that we, too, must have the same mindset (v. 26). In comparison with following Christ, we must “hate” our lives in this world and die to self (Matt. 16:24–25; Gal. 2:20).

This does not mean we’re to throw our lives away or seek out persecution or not enjoy His blessings. Rather, we’re to spend our lives wholly and completely on the right things—to make our life choices with eternity in view.

Go Deeper

What does it mean to die to the world or die to ourself? Can you think of a time you gained by putting “to death” sinful choices?

Pray with Us

Heavenly Father, setting aside our earthly desires and priorities isn’t always easy. Forgive us for the times we choose these things over You. Help us to be “all in” for You.

If it dies, it produces many seeds.John 12:24

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Read 2 Corinthians 9:6–11

Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount that storing up “treasures on earth” is useless. In this world, our treasures can be stolen or destroyed. Rather we should store up “treasures in heaven,” beyond the reach of the risks of a fallen world. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:19–21).

The virtue of generosity shows that our hearts are not attached to the things of this world. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul reveals another twist on the principle of you reap what you sow, as applied to giving and generosity (vv. 6–7). We should give not with reluctance or under compulsion, but willingly and even cheerfully. If we sow generously, we’ll reap generously. Why? Because “God loves a cheerful giver.”

How? Because God (vv. 8–9). One might think that giving generously would empty the bank account. But God’s economy is different and He’s “able to bless you abundantly.” This is not a prosperity gospel, for all that’s said here is that we’ll have what we need. The blessing is spiritual—to “abound in every good work.” Paul then quoted from Psalm 112, which includes generosity in its portrait of righteous people. Why do they scatter gifts to the poor? Because they’re trusting in God, not their money.

Furthermore, for generous givers God “will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness” (vv. 10–11). He doesn’t ignore material things. After all, He supplies seeds and bread. But the focus is on the spiritual: “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” “Through us” makes it clear that Paul was specifically grateful for their missionary support for him and his team (cf. Phil. 4:10–13).

Go Deeper

What does it mean to be a cheerful giver? How does your faith and obedience to God shape your own financial decisions?

Pray with Us

As You have so freely given to us, Jesus, help us freely give to others. Please bring people across our path who are in need; let us show You to them.

You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion.2 Corinthians 9:11

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Read 1 Corinthians 3:1–9

If you’ve ever gardened, you know how much work it is! The soil must be prepared, seeds planted, the ground watered and weeded. Small fences guard against rabbits, squirrels, and other foragers. Moles might threaten, or frost, or hail, or drought, or various insects. After all that work, you hope your harvest will yield tomatoes, beans, zucchini, or other produce.

Paul used a farming or gardening metaphor in 1 Corinthians 3 to describe the work of the gospel. The Corinthian believers had been quarreling about different leaders, including Paul and Apollos (vv. 1–4). To do so, scolded Paul, was worldly and immature. Were they “mere infants in Christ”? Such behavior wasn’t suitable for followers of Jesus. The leaders over whom they were fighting were servants of God (vv. 5–8). God is in charge. He assigns tasks to whomever He wants—some to plant, some to water, and some to harvest. It didn’t matter which task Paul or Apollos had been assigned, because God is the only One who can make anything happen, and all the glory belongs to Him. It’s like fighting over spoons when it’s the ice cream that really matters!

Paul had planted or started the church in Corinth. Apollos had watered or developed the work. But God had made it grow. Paul and Apollos were nothing in and of themselves—certainly not worth quarreling over. Furthermore, they were united in purpose, God’s purpose. They would be rewarded for their labors, so it did matter at that level, but they would be rewarded by God. The church does not belong to any one leader but to Christ (Col. 1:18). Paul wrote: “We are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building” (v. 9). In other words, it’s all about God!

Go Deeper

Do you see that type of strife in today’s church culture? How might Paul’s words apply to the “celebrity culture” that happens in our Christian community today?

Pray with Us

Jesus, please forgive us for the times we have let our pride get in the way of serving You. Remind us of the beauty and eternal value of working together with other believers.

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.1 Corinthians 3:6

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Read John 15:1–10

Israel is often pictured as an unfruitful vine in Scripture. For example, one passage speaks of God transplanting a vine from Egypt to Canaan and caring for it. But the vineyard now stands in ruins because the people had abandoned the Lord (Ps. 80:8–16). We also saw in Jesus’ parable on Day 17 how the rebellious tenants of the vineyard had rejected both the owner (God) and His Son.

This background adds extra impact to Jesus calling Himself the “true vine” in John 15. In this extended metaphor, Jesus is named as the source of life and fruitfulness. The Father is the gardener who cultivates and trims the branches (v. 2). The Greek word translated “prunes” here literally means “cleans,” explaining the wordplay that follows in verse 3.

We are the branches who must “remain” or “abide” in the Vine in order to bear fruit (vv. 4–5). This verb can also be translated as “dwell” or “reside.” In other words, Christ should be our Home (see Ps. 15).

(Yes, another metaphor!) Branches that bear fruit are pruned or cut back in order to be made more fruitful. Branches that do not bear fruit are cut off. Once they’ve withered, they’re thrown into the fire (v. 6).

Abiding in the Vine also leads to answered prayer (v. 7; cf. John 14:13–14). How? A heart aligned with God’s is guaranteed to ask only what God wants. Answered prayer, fruitfulness, genuine discipleship, love, obedience, and God’s glory are inextricably intertwined (vv. 8–10). This isn’t about human striving. To obey is to abide in God’s love, which is to abide in Christ. To sow one is to reap the others. This agricultural metaphor is therefore a powerful key to following Christ and the spiritual walk!

Go Deeper

What does it mean to “remain,” “abide,” “dwell,” or “reside” in the Lord? What are some practical ways we can live out this metaphor?

Pray with Us

Together with Augustine of Hippo, we acknowledge that “our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” May our hearts always dwell with You. We love You, Lord.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.John 15:1

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Read Matthew 13:31–32

A simile is a comparison using “like” or “as.” We use similes all the time. For example, “It fits like a glove” or “I’m feeling like a fish out of water.” Similes are often found in the book of Proverbs; for example: “Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf” (Prov. 11:28).

Jesus also used similes in His teaching, including: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed” (v. 31). What did He mean by this comparison? This statement is followed by a single sentence of explanation: “Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches” (v. 32). There is a very small start but a very big finish here. “Tree” is a bit of an exaggeration, but the mustard plant can grow to more than ten feet tall. This is unexpected, even surprising. Birds nesting in the branches paint an image of safety and security.

In the same way, the kingdom of God might appear small at first, like a mustard seed, but it will grow to be impressively large. God has designed all seeds to do something like this, so we know the principle even if we’ve never seen a mustard seed. Jesus’ listeners weren’t looking for a “mustard seed Messiah” but rather the final “tree.” Even so, since Christ’s first coming, the kingdom has been ripening across history, though we can’t necessarily see the big picture. When He returns, the process will be complete, and we’ll be able to see it. Since the kingdom is God’s, its ultimate triumph is assured. Though it began as an apparently insignificant movement in first-century Judaism, it will one day be a worldwide kingdom ruled by Christ.

Go Deeper

In what way is the kingdom of heaven like a mustard seed? Have you seen examples of this growth happening from one small seed planted?

Pray with Us

Father, You delight in using humble beginnings to accomplish Your grand plan. Give us eyes to see the beautiful things You are making from the small beginnings in our lives.

The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed.Matthew 13:31

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Read John 4:27–41

The “State of the Great Commission” report released by the Lausanne Movement in 2024 revealed two surprising facts: First, although 40 percent of the world has not yet been evangelized, the vast majority of missionaries (97 percent) are reaching those who have already had a chance to encounter the gospel. Second, while more than 80 percent of Christians lived in the West (Europe and North America) in 1900, today about 75 percent live in the Global South (Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania).

“The fields are ripe for harvest” is a well-known missions slogan drawn from today’s passage. It takes place at the end of Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well. The disciples were returning from their errand to town to get food. On their way, they must have passed the woman as she headed back to town to tell others that she’d met the Messiah (vv. 27–30). They offered Jesus food but He cryptically responded, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about” (vv. 31–34). Then He explained that by “food,” He meant doing the will of His Father. As usual, the disciples were a bit lost.

Attempting to enlighten them, Jesus urged them to open their eyes “and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest” (vv. 35–38). We’re not sure of the exact timeline, but Jesus may have been gesturing toward the town. If the disciples looked in that direction, they may have seen the townspeople headed their way in response to the woman’s testimony. In God’s plan, sowers and reapers each have their part to do. They can be glad together. Clearly, the Spirit had been at work in this place prior to their arrival. When the Samaritans arrived, perhaps all the disciples worked together to tell them about the Messiah. However it happened, many from that town believed (vv. 39–41).

Go Deeper

What role are you playing in the “harvest,” including local community outreach and world missions? How about your church? How can you become more involved?

Pray with Us

You are always attentive to the lost, Lord. Open our eyes and nudge us toward anyone who has a tender heart toward the gospel. What a privilege to be part of bringing someone to salvation!

Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.John 4:35

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Read Matthew 21:33–46

When Jesus told the parable of the vineyard in Matthew 21, His hearers were no doubt reminded of Naboth’s vineyard in 1 Kings 21. Evil King Ahab coveted the abundant vineyard and offered to buy it, but Naboth refused. His queen, Jezebel, then lied to have Naboth murdered, so Ahab could seize the property. The prophet Elijah condemned their unjust actions.

In Jesus’ story, a man planted a vineyard (vv. 33–39). The references to a winepress and a watchtower show that he had prepared it carefully before renting it out to tenants for a share of the harvest. When the time came, however, instead of paying the rent they murdered the owner’s three messengers and finally his son. No doubt audience outrage was growing as the story unfolded. Jesus the Master Teacher asked them to predict what would happen next (vv. 40–41). They naturally answered that the owner would deal out justice to those wicked tenants and find more honest ones.

Jesus then provocatively interpreted the story as symbolizing God, Israel, and Himself (vv. 42–46). The owner of the vineyard is God. The original tenants are the “chief priests and the Pharisees.” The messengers were the prophets. Jesus Himself is the owner’s Son, the rejected Cornerstone, the Messiah. The religious leaders knew that Jesus’ story condemned them and from that point on they wanted to arrest Him. Though this was an opportunity to repent, they missed it completely and instead acted exactly as the story described.

The next chapter in God’s kingdom plan would include both Jews and Gentiles (see Rom. 11:17–24), a plan the Jews hadn’t expected. Those who reject the Cornerstone will see the kingdom taken away from them and given to those who will “produce its fruit” (see Matt. 21:43). May we be among those who produce fruit for the kingdom!

Go Deeper

Compare and contrast those two vineyard stories. Why are people still rejecting Jesus today?

Pray with Us

We are grieved to know there are people who reject You, Jesus. Thank You for showing grace and mercy to us over and over. May we never miss the opportunity to seek Your face.

The kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.Matthew 21:43

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Read Luke 12:13–21

If you’re anything like me, you’ve resonated with the song “If I Were a Rich Man” from Fiddler on the Roof. In this musical, the father Tevye dreams of being wealthy. Not only would his family be comfortable, he’d have more time to study in the synagogue. He asks God, “Would it spoil some vast eternal plan? If I were a wealthy man?”

God did not grant Tevye’s wish (or mine) to be wealthy, and in light of today’s parable that’s a blessing. Riches can be a formidable temptation (1 Tim. 6:10). In Luke 12, a man asked Jesus to tell his brother to divide the inheritance with him (vv. 13–15). He was likely a younger brother, and his older brother would receive double. Jesus refused, then warned His audience against greed (covetousness) and materialism. The principle is simple: Life is not merely about possessions.

To illustrate further, Jesus told a story about a farmer who reaped a huge harvest, so big that he didn’t have enough space to store it all. His solution was to build larger barns (vv. 16–19). The man was selfish. He didn’t even consider giving some of it away. He put his trust in his wealth and pridefully found his security there. As a result of this harvest, he congratulated himself and decided he could “take life easy” from now on.

God evaluated this attitude as damned (literally) foolishness (vv. 20–21). That very night the farmer would die. He’d provided for his grain but not for his soul! Death reveals the quality of that in which we’ve put our faith. The barns were full, but the man couldn’t take any of it with him. As Ecclesiastes says, all such things are meaningless. This is how it will be for everyone who “stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Go Deeper

Finish this sentence: None of us know when we will die, therefore… Christ has already conquered death, so we can contemplate the matter without fear.

Pray with Us

Lord, everything we have comes from You. Help us not be distracted by the appeal of money and possessions. Thank You that You “give us each day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3).

This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.Luke 12:21

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Read Matthew 13:1–23

If you visit Moody Bible Institute’s Chicago campus, be sure to check out the entrance lobby in Crowell Hall. There you will find a beautiful stained-glass window called “The Sower.” It pictures the farmer in Matthew 13. With a bag slung over his shoulder, the sower strides through a field, one hand scattering seeds.

We read this parable in two parts. First, the story itself (vv. 1–9). The scattered seeds come to four ends: (1) The birds eat the seeds that fell on the hard surface of the path. (2) Seeds that landed in rocky places sprang up quickly but then withered because they had no root. (3) Seeds that landed among thorns were choked. (4) Finally, seeds that landed in good soil yielded an incredibly fruitful crop.

The second part is Jesus’ explanation, requested by His disciples (vv. 18–23). The seeds represent the message of the kingdom, that is, the gospel. In the reception of this message, there are four results seen in the story: (1) Some people don’t understand, and Satan snatches it away. (2) Some receive it with joy, but they fall away when trouble or persecution comes. (3) Some hear it, but “the worries of this life and the deceitfulness [or ‘seductiveness’] of wealth” choke or suffocate the response. Luke’s version adds “pleasures.” (4) Others hear, understand, and respond in faith and obedience, as seen in their fruitfulness. Only this fourth type is truly saved.

The sower or farmer is not directly identified but is ultimately God, because the gospel of redemption is His plan. He uses angels and human beings in that plan, so it’s not inaccurate to picture pastors, missionaries, and indeed all followers of Christ as scattering the seeds. We’re responsible to sow but reaping or outcomes are up to the Lord.

Go Deeper

Are we being obedient about scattering the seeds? What does that look like in your life? Why is it so important to trust God with the results?

Watch this video as we talk about the Parable of the Sower with devotional author, Dr. Bradley Baurain!

Pray with Us

Jesus, who do You want us to be scattering seeds to? Please give us courage, patience, and discernment to share Your truth well. Thank You for letting us be part of Your plan!

The seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it.Matthew 13:23

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Read Ezekiel 17:22–24

“I think that I shall never see / A poem lovely as a tree,” wrote poet Joyce Kilmer in “Trees.” Indeed, everything made by our Creator God is a work of art. His description continues: “A tree that looks at God all day, / And lifts her leafy arms to pray… Poems are made by fools like me, / But only God can make a tree.”

In Ezekiel 17, God plants a cedar tree as an image of His faithfulness. So far this month we’ve seen farming imagery and language used about both people (for example, reaping what we sow) and God (for example, sending fruitful harvests). Here, the Lord announces He will plant a cedar shoot (young tree) on the top of a high mountain (v. 22). It looks small to begin with, but it has the potential to become a towering tree. The “high and lofty mountain” likely symbolizes Jerusalem. Sure enough, the cedar twig will become a “splendid cedar” (v. 23). This won’t happen overnight. The growth of a tree is slow but steady, that is to say, God’s plans take time to unfold. In time, the birds will nest and find shelter in the mature tree. This picture usually indicates safety or security.

God can do this because He is sovereign over all nations (“the trees of the forest”). He can bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall,” or “dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish” (v. 24; cf. Ps. 75:6–7; Luke 1:51–53). What He has said He will do is as good as done (see Heb. 11:1). In context, Ezekiel’s images are messianic. Just as Isaiah had spoken of a Branch from the “stump of Jesse” (Isa. 11:1–5), so Ezekiel wrote here of a flourishing cedar tree.

Go Deeper

Are we patient enough with God’s plans? That is, do we hold on to faith while the tree is growing? What can we do to strengthen our faith during difficult seasons?

Pray with Us

Holy Father, thank You for keeping all Your promises. When we are tired of waiting, bring to our minds all the times You have shown your faithfulness. Help us trust Your plan.

It will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar.Ezekiel 17:23

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Read Isaiah 55:8–13

The Farmers’ Almanac has been published annually since 1818. Many have put their confidence in its long-range weather forecasts. It has also been a trusted source for home remedies, advice on gardening and cooking, and lists such as the “5 Worst Weather Cities.”

While even trusted almanacs may fail, God’s Word never fails. As surely as the cycle of the seasons, God’s plans, commands, and promises will be accomplished and fulfilled (v. 11). We can and should trust in that, especially given how often our human plans are foolish or fail. In addition, God’s ways are qualitatively higher than ours (vv. 8–9). They’re beyond our understanding.

God’s ways are like the water cycle (v. 10). Water evaporates, then returns to the earth as snow and rain. This waters the earth, “making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater.” When nature works as God designed, the result is a fruitful harvest and plentiful food. As David wrote: “You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it” (Ps. 65:9).

Furthermore, God’s ways are good (vv. 12–13). “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace.” Nature itself will rejoice with you! The bad and the ugly (thornbush, briers) will be replaced by the good and the beautiful (juniper, myrtle). The result? God’s “renown” or glory. The accomplishment of His redemptive plans (see Isa. 55:1–3) will be “an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.” Though God’s ways are incalculably higher, He has given us a picture we can understand, rooted in the world He created!

Go Deeper

How many ways can you think of in which God’s ways are different from and higher than ours? In what ways can and should this strengthen our faith and worship?

Pray with Us

Lord, everywhere we look we see evidence of You: creative, insightful, and wise. When we see beauty, we cannot help but declare Your praise. We join with creation to worship You!

So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire.Isaiah 55:11

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Read Psalm 126

My wife and I have been blessed with five children. Five times, I watched her endure excruciating labor pains. Why? For the joy of new life. Admiring her strength and hearing our babies’ first cries are five of the most remarkable miracles I have ever witnessed. Those moments reminded me of Psalm 126:5: “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.”

Psalm 126 is written in what might feel like reverse order. First, the psalmist rejoices at the harvest or reward. The exiles in Babylon praise God as if their anticipated return to the promised land has already been accomplished (vv. 1–3). Taken away in captivity, they’d returned home. Once sick, they’d regained health. The tears that watered the ground had reaped joy. These are powerful and surprising images. No one expects streams in the desert, but that’s what they were given. It felt like a dream! “The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy” (v. 3).

In the second half of the psalm, we return to the “sowing.” The people pray for God to “restore our fortunes” and bring them back to the promised land (vv. 4–6). They understand that this hope is not achievable in their own strength. “Those who go out weeping” do not typically “return with songs of joy.” Only God can make that happen. Their faith is strong—they’re not hedging their bets. They’d praised Him in advance for answering their prayer! We too can harvest joy from sorrow (see John 16:12–22). How? Because God. There is nothing we can do to make it happen. But in God’s grace and mercy, He can turn things around.

Go Deeper

Aren’t you thankful that, because of Jesus, we will not receive the deserved results of the sins we have sown? Find out how you too can have an assurance of salvation!

Pray with Us

As the God of the unexpected reversal, You deserve our praise. You bring beauty from ashes, joy from sorrow, and growth from pain. There is no One like You.

Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.Psalm 126:5

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Read Isaiah 30:23–26

In the Bible, God sometimes sent droughts to get Israel’s attention. In one prophecy of Jeremiah, for example, the ground is cracked and dry. There is no rain. Farmers despair. Even rich people can’t get water because the wells have run dry. Wild animals were suffering too. What’s the message? God was using drought to call His people to repent of their sins (Jer. 14, especially vv. 1–10). If they chose to repent, God would bless them.

Yesterday, we considered ruined fields in Joel 1, and today we turn our focus to restoration. The ruined fields were both literal and figurative; they represented hunger, hardship, and judgment. Similarly, the restored fields stand for abundance, blessing, and God’s favor. When the rain arrived it would cause seeds to grow and lead to a rich harvest (v. 23). The cattle would graze freely in broad, green pastures, and other farm animals would also eat well (v. 24). There would be plenty of water (v. 25; cf. Jer. 17:8). “The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days” (v. 26). Light here symbolizes God’s blessing.

All of this is a picture of what will happen “when the LORD binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted” (v. 26). He inflicted them as a judgment on their sin. In other words, they’d deserved it. But also: He’d been in control the entire time, which was a comforting truth. He wasn’t throwing lightning bolts from on high. His judgment was mercifully intended to summon them back to Himself. The Great Physician hadn’t given up on His people (see Exod. 15:26; Mark 2:17)! This image of God as a doctor or healer has clear messianic implications (Isa. 61:1–3; Luke 4:16–21).

Go Deeper

Have you gone through times of drought and/or times of restoration? How did those times in your life impact your relationship with the Lord?

Pray with Us

Whether we are in a season of drought or restoration, we worship You. Thank You that You use hardships to draw us to Yourself. We depend on You for all things.

He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentifulIsaiah 30:23

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