Every Seed Has a Story
“...the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.” John 4:37
Most Jesus followers have testimonies that include several interactions with various people and situations in the journey from being lost in sin to being a fully devoted disciple of Christ. My own journey is no exception.
Sunday school lessons at home because we could not always get to town from the farm in winter.
Travel to evangelistic events with my father after he began to aggressively follow Jesus.
Initial interest in Jesus at 14 years of age.
Encountering death at 15 when my dad died.
Active in youth group in a church that did not preach the Gospel.
In early years of marriage walked away from church for a season.
Attended a church where a great revival was winding down.
Responded to an altar call in that church some months later.
I could go on to talk about my discipleship journey which included great mentors, inspiring sermons, wonderful worship services, bible conferences, training in evangelism, teaching classes, etc. etc.
There are times as a disciple-maker when we happen to be in just the right place at just the right time to lead someone to Jesus and help them get started on their discipleship journey. More often we may never know the impact a kind smile, a helping hand, a word of encouragement, a prayer offered, a statement of counsel, an expression of love for Jesus will have on a person who does not know Jesus.
It is enough for me to know that God loves everyone everywhere equally and that I get to partner with other Jesus followers in a long line of people who will play a role in leading someone to Jesus. When this happens there is great joy and celebration here on earth as well as in heaven.
Too often we have assumed that our work is done when the person becomes a Jesus follower. In reality, the work is often just beginning. There will be joys and sorrows in the discipleship journey as we guide a new Jesus follower from initial commitment to Christ to becoming a mature disciple-maker.
The concept of various people being engaged in sowing and reaping carries forward into the discipleship process. Working together with other Jesus followers in a discipleship group with a new Jesus follower is a very effective way to guide and nurture the person on the journey to one day being among those who play a role in sowing or reaping in the life of another person.
