Jun 07

It was noted that God gives us time to grow and mature in him. This is part of the graciousness of God. But it is also true that judgment does come; time does come to an end one day.

In Isaiah 28, God gives us a lesson about this. After comparing how he builds his kingdom to how a farmer sows seed, he ends the lesson with a sobering reminder that a day does come, the day of the harvest, when the farmer quits sowing seed and waiting, and the reaping begins:

"When a farmer plows for planting, does he plow continually? Does he keep on braking up and harrowing the soil? . . . Grain must be ground to make bread; so one does not go on threshing it forever" (vs. 24, 28).

Sobering words indeed. Too often, we tend to grow so accustomed to receiving the grace and mercy of God that it is easy to presume upon that grace and forget that all of God's mercy and forgiveness and grace is meant to lead us to achieving his goal for us, which is to produce fruit for him. The time of harvest cuts short all further chance to change and reach the goal.

We would do well to hear these words and pay attention to them, not letting a single word fall to the ground.

"Listen and hear my voice; pay attention and hear what I say" (v. 23).

Scripture for today: Isaiah 28:23-29
Thought for today: Growth in God involves breaking and growing.
Prayer for today: Lord, help me to pay attention with sober mind
to your words.

JUN 07