TO REAP IN ANOTHER FIELD  10/02/08

EXPERIENCE:  I was praying over someone (person #1) who had been particularly hard to communicate with, and after having forgiven hundreds of offenses and going the extra mile, I was very weary after all my striving was spent.  I had just done another act of kindness as unto the Lord on behalf of this person and left it all in God’s hands to sow as He pleased. 

Then I went to the store to get a birthday card for someone (person #2) that I was earnestly praying for, and broke down in tears over this second person’s need for God’s mercy and not judgment.  I heard the Lord tell me that He would treat this person #2 in the same way I had treated person #1.  THIS OVERWHELMED ME. 

I had many years of personal experience of walking in God’s loving forgiveness, bountiful goodness and gifts, mercy, firm commitment ... all balanced by His fierce loving rebukes and warnings over person #1.  I knew the heart of God for having walked through this. The Lord opened my eyes to understand that the 2 people were very similar in how they responded to God.  I suddenly realized that part of my investment into person #1 would bear fruit for my earnest prayers over person #2.  He was telling me that what I had sown, would be reaped in a multiplied harvest in a different field.  WOWOWOWOWWOWOWOW.  I realized that all my pain over person #1 was worth it, if it brought mercy into the life of person #2, who needed it much more.

Prov 12:14 NKJV

A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, and the recompense of a man's hands will be rendered to him.

Hos 10:12 NKJV

Sow for yourselves righteousness;  Reap in mercy;

Gal 6:7-10 NKJV

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows , that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

PRAYER:  Lord we ask for Your grace and help to respond to those You have placed in our lives, as You would respond to them.  We bow ourselves in fear of Your ways Lord, that as we sow, so shall we also reap.  We humble ourselves under the hand of our own failures to choose to respond in righteous, holy and loving ways to our loved ones and also to Your enemies.  In Jesus Name.