Harvest 2007

Dear Friends,

Autumn is a good month for meditation - it seems to lend itself to pensive moods and reflective moments. Except for the fact that life is all hurry and scurry for most people - with little time to think beyond the demands of the day. But we should find time to think - some wit suggested that the probable reason that some people get lost in thought is because it is unfamiliar territory to them. In reality of course we think all the time - the problem for many of us is that we do not think deeply enough to make much difference to the way that we live. Bruce J Milne said 'that at every point right living begins with right thinking'. Seasons of the year, like Harvest, should help us think.

Harvest begins with a step of faith.

The farmer who ploughs his field and scatters his seed has no absolute guarantee that he will ever gather a good harvest. It may rain - it may not. It may rain too much - it may rain too little. It may rain at the wrong time or even the best time - but he does not know that when he begins his work. Some farmers place their faith in the regular and (they hope) reliable process of nature - others consciously trust in the God of creation - both are believers in something or better - Someone. It is much the same in the work of God. Jesus taught that the Word of God is like seed that needs to be sown. Sown in the human heart and sown in the human mind.

Some hearers are as hard as the road - not receptive to the Gospel at all!
Some are like gravel - nothing goes in deep - nothing grips them for long.
Some are like ground that is full of weeds - Christ is simply crowded out.
Some are like well prepared earth - ready to seize the word and embrace it.

Harvest should produce a song of faithfulness.

'We plough the fields and scatter the good seed on the land.

But it is fed and watered by God's almighty hand'.

Whatever kind of harvest we celebrate - natural or spiritual - we have cause for thanksgiving. And if we are at all grateful for the good we receive - then harvest is also a good time for giving - sharing some of our plenty with those in need.

Eddie Jones (Pastor) Back to top