Psalms 126:6 (NLT), "They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest."
Friday... Life brings with it different emotions.
There are many emotions that come as we evaluate our life.
Today is my wife's birthday. She is truly the greatest gift outside of Jesus to me personally from God. In three days it will be our 52nd anniversary. Yes, that is really amazing.
I have to be honest, birthdays and anniversaries can be difficult to me because they have numbers attached to them. Especially these later ones.
Now Psalm 126:6 is a tremendous verse for this time of life. It says, "They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest."
Yes, there can be weeping in the planting. It can be easy to feel some despair in evaluating the planting of seeds. Ours is not a perfect family but we are a family who loves God and that is what being a Christian parent is all about.
Now over in 2 Timothy 4 the writer of this letter, the Apostle Paul was about to be killed for his life of planting and sharing the Good News of Christ's death and Resurrection and he was evaluating his life.
He said in verses 6b-8, some very real encouragement to us. He writes verses 6b-7, "The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful." And if you go back and read in some of his earlier letters, he had it rough, very rough. And there could have been some tears during those planting days and even now to his being killed for his planting but this isn't the finish. There is also some singing, some celebration ahead.
Yes, he doesn't stop. Verse 8 says, "And now the prize awaits me-the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing,"
Yes, for the farmer, planting was hard work but the harvest was another story. There was singing envolved. The harvest was worth the effort.
Now he tells the young preacher, Timothy, in verse 2, "Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching." And that is great advice for parents, isn't it?
Paul then tells him that it won't be easy. Verses 3-4 says, "For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths." And then verse 5a he writes, "But you should keep a clear mind." Yes, keep at the planting and a time of harvest is coming.
So let's keep at it with a clear mind. Yes, "They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest." Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

Comments
Post a Comment