As Spring arrives, I start to think in gardening terms. I was thinking the other day of some of the contacts I have made with pastors and churches. They are like seeds in the garden.
Some will not sprout. The pastor or church will not choose to have us for a meeting and will not support us in prayer.
Some will be early crops, like radishes or lettuce. The pastor schedules a meeting right away and we have an immediate opportunity to present our burden.
Some are late crops, like cucumbers or potatoes. We plant the seed and it will yield an opportunity, months later. Some may not bear fruit for years.
Some are “everbearing”. Some vegetables like zucchini or hot peppers will keep producing as long as the plant lives. Some churches will catch a vision for our ministry and support us in prayer and finances for years to come.
The difference between deputation and a garden is I never know which seeds are of what type. When I plant a radish, I know it will spring up quickly and produce a tasty reward soon after. When I plant a cucumber (in Maine), I know it may not produce before the first frost of Fall. When I contact a church, I never know what the outcome will be. But I do know I need all kinds of plants in my “garden”. When I plant a garden, I intentionally do not restrict myself to only early crops, or only late crops. I plant a variety of crops so that if some fail my garden is not a total loss. I intentionally plant a variety of crops so the harvest is spread out over a longer season. I intentionally plant vegetables that must be eaten right away and others that keep well over the winter. On deputation I trust the Lord will meet my need in the present, as well as the future if I plant the seeds and trust the harvest to Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment