Season of Harvest

Fall is officially here! Tisk, tisk, those of you who indulged in a pumpkin spice latte before September 22. Cable-knit sweaters have emerged from the backs of closets to ward off the chill of the crisp morning air. Pumpkin flavors dominate coffee shop fare. Reds, yellows, and oranges imbue flora in a beautiful autumn tapestry. Kids wind their way through the labyrinthine passages of corn mazes. Families flock to apple farms to pick bushels of Pink Ladies and Granny Smiths. ‘Tis the season of harvest!

God reaps His own harvest and we get to participate in the process. Like a farmer who carefully sows his seeds into tilled soil, God calls us to plant the seeds of the Gospel into people’s hearts. Romans 10:14-15 says, “…how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

Our job is simply the one of sowing. Only God can affect how the seed is received, whether it falls onto rocky terrain to its death or onto the fertile ground where it produces fruit (Mark 4:3-9; 14-20). It’s the Holy Spirit’s job to cultivate the seed of the Gospel and bring it to fruition – salvation. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Sometimes we get to see God bring our labor to fruition – and what a blessing it is! Psalm 126:5-6 says, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Other times, we may never know if God touched a person’s heart. Galatians 6:9 tells us, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Matthew 9:37-38 says, “Then saith He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.”

Our calling is to faithfully and prayerfully obey God through every season of harvest. Let’s go out into the world to sow the seeds of His Gospel, perhaps with a pumpkin spice latte in hand!

Jessie Chamberlain
Family Radio Staff

Basking in His Presence

I sat back in my chair, basking in the fresh air. In front of me lay a full English tea service: tiny sandwiches, scones, and pastries. A dainty teacup contained my Palace Earl Grey tea, to which I gleefully added two lumps of sugar. An umbrella shaded me from the sun in the uncommonly warm London weather. I looked at the perfectly manicured green lawn stretched out in front of the red-bricked palace in front of me, wondering if any royalty happened to be home taking care of a brand new baby boy. Throughout my entire afternoon tea, I texted my “mum,” who was half a world away in California coincidentally enjoying her own peach scones for breakfast.

Technology permeates western culture now. We can video chat with loved ones across the world. Instead of snail mail, we can send correspondence with only the click of a button. It only takes a minute to heat up dinner in the microwave. Cars on the highway outstrip a horse and buggy. But I would venture a guess that even with all this saved time, we are busier than ever.

When it comes to to-do lists, I reign queen. I’ll put something on my list simply for the sheer pleasure of checking it off when I finish. And I have graduated from using my day planner to keep track of my lists and schedules to using computer software to remind me what I need to do. With all the time technology “saves” me, I can fit more and more into my schedule. BUT it’s getting harder and harder to obey that fourth commandment. You know the one…about honoring the Sabbath…

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it”
(Exodus 20:8-11).

Not only did God make this a commandment, but He spent more words explaining it than any other commandment. As the inspired Word of God, one commandment doesn’t have more importance than another, but just maybe God wanted to make sure we didn’t skip over this one. Instead, He wants us to take it seriously.

God has taught me that anything He commands me to do is for my own benefit as well as for His glory. When He wrote this commandment, in His omniscience He already knew that humans need rest from work so we can live life to the fullest without becoming weary. When we take time in the presence of God to rest on the Sabbath, our souls are restored and our cups overflow (Psalm 23) for we have participated in holiness.

Let’s set aside the distractions of technology and to-do lists on the Sabbath. Let’s commune with God over our own “cups of tea,” basking in His holy presence.

Jessie Chamberlain
Family Radio Staff

A Teachable Spirit

For most of the country by now, schools are back in session. Back-to-school sales are over, and for families, weekday mornings are now a flustered rush to get to the big yellow bus in time, lunch in one hand and homework in the other. Students are off to learn their reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic.

I always loved learning. Not everyone has the same learning style, but formal education and I got along really well. Even to this day, I love to learn. Whether it’s taking an online course to learn new computer software or attending a writers’ conference to further my skill level, obtaining new knowledge excites me even when it doesn’t always come easily.

However, if I don’t put what I learn into practice, it would be a waste of my time and resources, especially concerning biblical matters. Philippians 4:9 says, “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” God desires for us to have a teachable spirit so we can learn and grow in Him to His glory.

In God’s eyes, learning is a good thing, benefitting our lives and souls. In Matthew 11:29, Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” John 14:26 assures us the Holy Spirit teaches us. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26).

The world looks at us as Christ’s ambassadors, so if we aren’t applying what we learn, we aren’t representing Him very well. Titus 3:14 says, “And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.” The fruit we bear is evidence that we’re putting our new knowledge to good use.

Have you ever heard the saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”? Well, I have a hunch that if God was done teaching us, no matter what our age, we’d be at home with Him in heaven. God has a purpose and a plan for each of us during our time on earth. Exodus 9:16 says, “And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.”

If a teachable spirit doesn’t come naturally to you, “…let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). Let’s apply what we learn so that we may bear fruit to the glory of God.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15).

Jessie Chamberlain
Family Radio Staff

Whatsoever Ye Do

In the United States, we have so much to be thankful for. Opportunities abound because the achievements of American workers have made our country a strong and prosperous place to live. Labor Day is a celebrated tradition that dates back 134 years to honor our industrious citizens.

As believers in Christ, we have extra motivation to work hard. Colossians 3:23 says, “and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” God wants us to be intentional; our every action should be for the purpose of pleasing Him.

So often we are tempted to please those around us because we receive immediate praise instead of relishing the knowledge that God is pleased with us because we’ve done our best for Him. Praise makes us feel accomplished and encourages us; it feels good. But when praise becomes our motivation rather than bringing God glory, we’ve shifted our eyes off of Christ and onto ourselves. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (I Corinthians 10:31).

Our various professions, no matter if we are missionaries, executives, or plumbers, can be used as ministry to those around us. “…Let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Ephesians 4:28). God is pleased when we serve others and tell them about Him.

Additionally, anything we do, whether work or play, if we do it without the Lord’s direction, it is useless. Psalm 127:1 says, “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” When we follow God’s leading, there is eternal significance to our actions.

As we do our best for the glory of the Lord by following His direction, we can rest in the knowledge that our labor isn’t in vain. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (I Corinthians 15:58).

“Whatsoever ye do,” our great country gives us a special day each year to take a break from work and recognize the blessings American workers have been to us. Let’s spend time this Labor Day being grateful to God for the opportunity to live and work here.

Jessie Chamberlain
Family Radio Staff