“Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” Matthew 13:24-30
Last weekend, I read in The Pantagraph that the corn harvest in Central Illinois was going well. The yields were looking good. God gave us much needed rain at just the right time. Imagine that. Ain’t God good? It is also amazing some years, to see what natural herbivories, weeds and weather can do to a harvest; their affect can be very detrimental to the final yield. What may be affecting your yield as you do work in His mission field?
The boy in the attached photo attends the Lutheran school at Bois Marchand and he is a worker in the mission fields of Haiti. The weeds in his life are poverty, lack of water, disease, gangs and the lies of the vodou priest who lives just down the road from his house. Your donation helped to plant good seeds in this school and your daily support from prayers continues to bind the weeds in his life and also help in doing His work; you also are receiving blessings from our Heavenly Father. The hymn ‘Jesus priceless treasure’ was written by Johann Franck in 1655 and its timeless words seem an appropriate way to close this message.
“Jesus, priceless Treasure, fount of purest pleasure, truest Friend to me. Ah, how long in anguish shall my spirit languish, yearning, Lord, for Thee? Thou art mine, O Lamb divine! I will suffer naught to hide Thee, naught I ask beside Thee. In Thine arms I rest me; foes who would molest me cannot reach me here. Though the earth be shaking, every heart be quaking, Jesus calms my fear. Lightnings flash and thunders crash; yet, though sin and hell assail me, Jesus will not fail me. Satan, I defy thee; death, I now decry thee; fear, I bid thee cease. World, thou shalt not harm me nor thy threats alarm me while I sing of peace. God's great power guards every hour; earth and all its depths adore Him, silent bow before Him. Hence, all earthly treasure! Jesus is my pleasure, Jesus is my choice. Hence, all empty glory! Naught to me thy story told with tempting voice. Pain or loss, or shame or cross, shall not from my Savior move me since He deigns to love me. Evil world, I leave thee; Thou canst not deceive me, Thine appeal is vain. Sin that once did blind me, get thee far behind me, come not forth again. Past thy hour, O pride and power; sinful life, thy bonds I sever, leave thee now forever. Hence, all fear and sadness! For the Lord of gladness, Jesus, enters in. Those who love the Father, though the storms may gather, still have peace within. Yea, whate'er I here must bear, Thou art still my purest Pleasure, Jesus, priceless Treasure!”
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay