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Fire or Garner? Choose Wisely!

Give His angels charge at last In the fire the tares to cast

For the Lord our God shall come
And shall take His harvest home
From His field shall in that day
All offenses purge away
Give His angels charge at last
In the fire the tares to cast
But the fruitful ears to store
In His garner evermore

 Come, Ye Thankful People Come 1844
By: Henry Alford (1810-1871)

Listen to this modern version of this seasonal hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

Here is podcast content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

As we continue our journey through this seasonal prepare yourself to come and praise. Prepare yourself but also be ready to issue to eh call to others to join you. What better time than this season of Thanksgiving? Let’s think about this.

Fire

When God gathers His harvest in at the end of the age there will be two different fates awaiting that which was growing in the field. Fire is the first. The tares will be cast into the fire to be burned.

The tares represent the souls of those who have not yielded their lives to God. They are the sons of the evil one. They never chose to become sons of God.

Their fate? The fires of hell.

Give His angels charge at last
In the fire the tares to cast

…and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 13:42 ESV

There will be wonderful developments for us at the harvest but the rest of what will happen will be awful for those who do not follow our King. They and their deeds will be thrown into a fiery furnace. How terrible it will be to spend an eternity there away from this gracious King.

Jesus is going to have His angels throw all those offensive things into a fire that will burn them eternally without ever consuming them entirely. If you think that sounds horrible you are absolutely right. Is there anyone you need to introduce to your King to spare them this fate?

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider the harvest. When you consider the fate of the tares it should prompt us to be ready, and to want to help others be ready as well. Pray this simple prayer, “Spirit, help me introduce someone to Jesus.” 

Garner

But the fruitful ears to store In His garner evermore

We will avoid the fires of hell and that is very good news! But there is even better news in store for us. Not only are we spared from hell, we are ushered into heaven!

Did you notice the qualifying adjective used to describe us? Fruitful. We are healthy ears, true ears, if we are productive.

It begs the question, “Are all ears fruitful?” Every ear of corn is made up of numerous kernels. Each those kernels has the potential to grow into a new ear of corn. So, every cob of corn has the potential to produce many new ears of corn.

The same could be said of us. We have the potential to produce and be fruitful. That allows us to accomplish the purpose God has for us.

But the fruitful ears to store
In His garner evermore

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. Matthew 13:43 ESV

We will be gathered in to enjoy the inheritance the righteous, shining like the sun in His kingdom. Do you have ears to hear and receive this promise today? This is the kind of hearing where you put into action what you have heard. How will you do that today?

Fruitful ears. Ears which produce fruit. He who has ears to hear…let him produce much fruit. If we are healthy we should be reproducing. So are you? Are you helping others to find a place in this kingdom of fruit producers? If so, you and they can look forward to eternity with God.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and think about how fruitful you are. Are there things in your life that are keeping you from being fruitful? Are you willing to let them go? Pray simply, “Lord, help me be fruitful.“

Lord, thank You for the reminder that I need to be ready for Your return. Not only for my own good, but for the good of those who I need to point to you. In Jesus name. Amen.

Fruitful Thinking!

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Podcast 34.3 Transcript

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.

For the Lord our God shall come
And shall take His harvest home

The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man…The harvest is the close of the age…Matthew 13:37, 39b ESV

Jesus will return and when He does He will take us home to be with Him forever. What a glorious day that will be when our hope in Him is finally, fully realized. Are you ready for that day? Are you allowing what Jesus has planted in you to reap a harvest?

From His field shall in that day
All offenses purge away

The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, Matthew 13:41 ESV

When he gathers us to our eternal home He will also be doing some other gathering which will make that place so wonderful. This verse says He will gather out of his kingdom “all causes of sin”. I don’t think I had seen that before. What a glorious promise! All offenses gone.

Give His angels charge at last
In the fire the tares to cast

…and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 13:42 ESV

Those will be wonderful developments for us but the rest of what will happen will be awful for those who do not follow our King. They and their deeds will be thrown into a fiery furnace. How terrible it will be to spend an eternity there away from this gracious King.

But the fruitful ears to store
In His garner evermore

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. Matthew 13:43 ESV

We however will be gathered in to enjoy the inheritance the righteous, shining like the sun in His kingdom. Do you have ears to hear and receive this promise today? This is the kind of hearing where you put into action what you have heard. How will you do that today?

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more, with the refrain.

For the Lord our God shall come
And shall take His harvest home
From His field shall in that day
All offenses purge away
Give His angels charge at last
In the fire the tares to cast
But the fruitful ears to store
In His garner evermore

Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, Be Resonant.

The post Fire or Garner? Choose Wisely! appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attribution
Give His angels charge at last In the fire the tares to cast – https://www.cmz-castingmediaforzion.com/post/the-mystery-revealed-in-the-parable-of-the-wheat-and-the-tares
But the fruitful ears to store In His garner evermore – https://pixabay.com/photos/corn-food-stored-autumn-nature-3760924/

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Thanking in advance

Welcome to Wednesday Wanderings with Dr. Sherri–a time we set aside to wander in the Presence of Jesus and ponder His truths. When you are ready, prepare your mind, body, and soul to have a transformational encounter with Jesus.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering with Dr. Sherri, we examined Where are the thankful people. This week we will examine Thanking in Advance?  When you are ready, you may begin the dialogue with Jesus and state: “Jesus, I invite you to help me to leisurely wander into your Presence. Prepare my heart to receive, and illuminate my spiritual senses to encounter you.”

 PROMISE: Psalm 34:1 Amplified Bible

I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Thanksgiving is not just a holiday. It is a continuous mindset thanks God for yesterday, today, and the days to come.

Psalm: Come, Ye Thankful People Come 1844
By: Henry Alford (1810-1871)

For the Lord our God shall come
And shall take His harvest home
From His field shall in that day
All offenses purge away
Give His angels charge at last
In the fire the tares to cast
But the fruitful ears to store
In His garner evermore

Henry Alford paints the image of gathering a harvest. He looks ahead at the ultimate gathering of Jesus coming for the saints as a reason the thankful people should come and give thanks. We give thanks in advance that Jesus shall come for us.

PARABLE:  I have many vivid memories of the Thanksgiving holiday which span from childhood to adulthood. The common memory that arises is the family Thanksgiving prayer. From the youngest to the oldest, we link our hands together and each person says a sentence prayer of what they are thankful for and why they are thankful. Each year the circle grows with a new toddler added. There is always a young child that stares forward in silence when it is their turn to share their gratitude because it is their first encounter with the gratitude circle. The child’s parent will prompt them by saying, “Just say, Thank you, Jesus!” Reluctantly, the child utters, “Thank you Jesus!” not fully understanding why He is saying this but understanding that reciting the sentence is not an option. 

Then it happens, one of the aunts or uncles gets the privilege to explain “why” we are grateful. Inevitably, a conversation about Jesus will erupt and usually ends in an explanation that we thank God that Jesus is coming back. This conversation is usually far above the comprehension of a toddler but the adults delight in painting the picture of the future and why we thank God in advance. This summer, I had the privilege to witness the “aha” of a great-nephew when he expressed that he understood the coming of Jesus. While we were 0n our family vacation and it was time for the gratitude circle, (yes, we do it at every family gathering and not just Thanksgiving) my great-nephew volunteered to lead the gratitude circle. He began, “I thank you God for Jesus!” and then went on to almost lead an alter call. He gave thanks for the family, for the privilege of vacation, for protection from Covid-19, and finally for the food. It was a priceless moment. The prayer that was planted as a toddler bloomed and my great-nephew knew that he should give thanks in advance for Jesus who is coming back for us.

Ultimately, in my opinion, giving thanks in advance to Jesus who will return to gather us and take us to live in eternity is the greatest blessing we can offer. As you gather this week to give thanks, maybe your sentence prayer will be “I thank you

Soul care training exercise: Come ye thankful people come and give thanks in advance that the Lord shall come. As we experience the blessings and miracles of each day, will you take time to Ponder the question In this moment, why am I thankful that Jesus will return? 

  • Reflect and let the Holy Spirit reveal to you why you are thankful that Jesus is coming back?
  • Notice without judgment and with a curious awareness of what comes to your mind. Invite God into your sanctified imagination. Ask Him to bring to your attention what He wants you to know about the things which came to your awareness.
  • Next scan your mind and notice what the Holy Spirit is sharing about the type of gratitude you expressed. Were the first things for the spiritual things of God? Physical things? or People?
  • Finally, Focus on what you see and hear. Ask the Holy Spirit what you need to know, hear, or do. Expand your thoughts, it may be something you never heard told this way before. With a breath of gratitude, breathe in and breathe out and accept what Jesus is offering to you.

PRAYER: Abba, I give thanks, I rejoice, I sing praises that Jesus will return for me. He will gather me like farmers gather the crops and take me to live with Him eternally. Help me to keep thanksgiving in my heart for the past, the present, and the future. Help me to thank you in advance for what you will do. In the saving name of Jesus, I pray, Amen. 

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to give thanks to God for his goodness, compassion, and lovingkindness. Then take the mindfulness of Jesus’ Presence in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

The post Thanking in advance appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image attributions:  Text art app with words added

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Ready for the Purge of His Return?

For the Lord our God shall come And shall take His harvest home

For the Lord our God shall come
And shall take His harvest home
From His field shall in that day
All offenses purge away
Give His angels charge at last
In the fire the tares to cast
But the fruitful ears to store
In His garner evermore

Come, Ye Thankful People Come 1844
 By: Henry Alford (1810-1871)

Listen to this modern version of this seasonal hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Below is video content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Please enjoy this video and the transcript below.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

As we continue our journey through this seasonal prepare yourself to come and praise. Prepare yourself but also be ready to issue the call to others to join you. What better time than this season of Thanksgiving? Let’s tune our hearts.

His Return

One day Jesus is going to return to the world as we know it, which is His harvest field. When He returns He will take His harvest, His people, to their eternal home with Him. Our great hope is that He is going to come back and take us to be with Him forever.

That hope changes everything. It changes how we view our lives. It changes how we view the lives of others. It changes how we view eternity.

For the Lord our God shall come
And shall take His harvest home

The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man…The harvest is the close of the age…Matthew 13:37, 39b ESV

Jesus will return and when He does He will take us home to be with Him forever. What a glorious day that will be when our hope in Him is finally, fully realized. Are you ready for that day? Are you allowing what Jesus has planted in you to reap a harvest?

Jesus has promised He will return and when He does will take all of the faithful to live with Him eternally. Are you waiting for His return like a day you want to come quickly? If there are reasons why you do not want it to happen yet identify and address them.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and think about the return of Jesus. Our hope rests in that grand event and what it will trigger, an eternity with God. Ask the Spirit to help you rest in that hope, then make this your simple prayer today “God, help me prepare for your return.” 

His Purging

From His field shall in that day All offenses purge away

Though we long for that day to come because of the hope it ushers in, not everyone will be so glad to see it. Those that are not a part of the harvest will experience a very different outcome. They will not be welcomed into the kingdom but escorted out of it.

And not only that. The place they will enter will be one of eternal torment. Rather than gathered together to enter God’s rest, they will be bundled up to suffer His wrath.

From His field shall in that day
All offenses purge away

The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, Matthew 13:41 ESV

When he gathers us to our eternal home He will also be doing some other gathering which will make that place so wonderful. This verse says He will gather out of his kingdom “all causes of sin”. I don’t think I had seen that before. What a glorious promise! All offenses gone.

When He returns to His field He is going to take stock of the harvest. First He is going to remove all offenses. Those things will have no place in His kingdom. Do you have a place in His kingdom? That all depends on if you have made Him your king. Well, have you?

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and reflect on a place free of offenses. Sound like heaven to me, but not because it is free of offenses. It will be heaven because God is there and in His presence there will be no offenses. Prepare yourself for such a place by surrendering your heart to Jesus today. Pray a simple prayer like this one, “Jesus, You are my King.” 

God, thank You for the promise of Your return and the housekeeping it will initiate. Help me prepare to be gathered up into your presence and not ushered away from it. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Prepared Tuning!

Keep coming back, and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence. We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.

Like what you’re finding here?  Fill out the form to the right to get an email with each fresh post and updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Please comment below and share if you have found this helpful in your journey of being more resonant.

Video 34.3 Transcript

 Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.

For the Lord our God shall come
And shall take His harvest home
From His field shall in that day
All offenses purge away
Give His angels charge at last
In the fire the tares to cast
But the fruitful ears to store
In His garner evermore

Jesus has promised He will return and when He does will take all of the faithful to live with Him eternally. Are you waiting for His return like a day you want to come quickly? If there are reasons why you do not want it to happen yet identify and address them.

God, help me prepare for your return.

When He returns to His field He is going to take stock of the harvest. First He is going to remove all offenses. Those things will have no place in His kingdom. Do you have a place in His kingdom. That all depends on if you have made Him your king. Well, have you?

Jesus, You are my king.

Next Jesus is going to have His angels throw all those offensive things into a fire that will burn them eternally without ever consuming them entirely. If you think that sounds horrible you are absolutely right. Is there anyone you need to introduce to your King to spare them this fate?

Spirit, help me introduce someone to Jesus.

Fruitful ears. Ears which produce fruit. He who has ears to hear…let him produce much fruit. If we are healthy we should be reproducing. So are you? Are you helping others to find a place in this kingdom of fruit producers? If so, you and they can look forward to eternity with God.

Lord, help me be fruitful.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.

Sing

Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, Be Resonant.

The post Ready for the Purge of His Return? appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
For the Lord our God shall come And shall take His harvest home – https://www.oregonlive.com/religion/2012/10/broadcasting_the_second_coming.html
From His field shall in that day All offenses purge away – https://pixabay.com/photos/fire-field-firefighting-wildfire-6706673/

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Growing Toward Maturity

First the blade and then the ear Then the full corn shall appear

All the world is God’s own field
Fruit unto His praise to yield
Wheat and tares together sown
Unto joy or sorrow grown
First the blade and then the ear
Then the full corn shall appear
Lord of harvest grant that we
Wholesome grain and pure may be

 Come, Ye Thankful People Come 1844
By: Henry Alford (1810-1871)

Listen to this modern version of this seasonal hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

Here is podcast content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

As we continue our journey through this seasonal prepare yourself to come and praise. Prepare yourself but also be ready to issue to eh call to others to join you. What better time than this season of Thanksgiving? Let’s think about this.

Growth

Are you growing? Things tend to be dynamic or changing. They are not often static. If you are not growing you must realize there is really only one alternative, and it is the opposite of growing.

What is the opposite of growing? When we think of plants a good word to describe the opposite of growing would probably be withering. That brings to mind the reality of decay and ultimately leads to death. Basically once something has stopped growing it often enters the process of dying.

If we are not growing spiritually then we must ask ourselves are we withering. Is our spiritual life becoming dormant? What is the condition of your soul? Did you start off healthy and vibrant but have since languished, floundering in your faith? That is not what has in mind for you.

He wants you to grow.

First the blade and then the ear
Then the full corn shall appear

The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. Mark 4:28 ESV

There is a process involved in all things that grow. It is unmistakable and undeniable. Nothing gets to skip steps. Things start small and grow into their full size with time. That principle is true in both the natural and spiritual realms. What are you growing to become?

 

Growth is a gradual process. It happens little by little. Though there are likely some weeds around you, how are you growing to yield the mature fruit God has in mind for you? Ask Him to show you the incremental steps you can take to become that fruit.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider your spiritual growth. Is it vibrant and dynamic, or lethargic and static? Pray this simple prayer, “Jesus, show me how to grow.” 

Mature

Lord of harvest grant that we Wholesome grain and pure may be

There is a finished product to spiritual growth. We will not attain it until we reach our harvest-home. That should not keep us from pursuing it.

Do you have a clear mental picture of what you are striving toward in your spiritual life? The hymn says wholesome and pure. Conducive or suggestive of good health and free of any contamination. Think of that in spiritual terms.

Living in such way that spiritual health is likely or even expected. Even though there may be elements around that would deter such health you focus on doing what you need to do and trusting the Lord to do what only He can. Believing there is a process and the Lord will shape you for it and take you to enjoy it.

Lord of harvest grant that we
Wholesome grain and pure may be

Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’” Matthew 13:30 ESV

We want to grow and be the wheat that is gathered into the barn. We want to be that wholesome and pure grain. Grain the Lord of the Harvest will be delighted to take to our eternal harvest-home. Are you looking forward to that day when the angels take you there?

Wholesome and pure grain. That is what the Lord of the Harvest has in mind for each of us to become. Free of spot or blemish. What imperfections in your life do you need the Lord of the Harvest to heal so you can become that grain? Ask for His help in surrendering those?

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and think about what being spiritually mature would look like. Are there things in your life that compete with that process. Are you willing to let them go? Pray simply, “Lord, help me surrender my imperfections.“

Lord, thank You for inviting me into a process of being wholesome and pure. You have made it so eternally and have invited me into the process of it experientially. Help me to grow until I am mature. In Jesus name. Amen.

Mature Thinking!

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Podcast 34.2 Transcript

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.

All the world is God’s own field
Fruit unto His praise to yield

And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, and they shall be secure in their land. And they shall know that I am the Lord…Ezekiel 34:27a ESV

Part of how God reveals His glory to us is through the bounty of the earth. That fruit should prompt praise from us as much as it is praise itself. That bounty is at the same time an illustration of God’s work in our spiritual lives as He grows us up for the praise of His grace.

Wheat and tares together sown
Unto joy or sorrow grown

The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, Matthew 13:38 ESV

But we are not the only things growing in this good field. There are bad things growing as well, the sons of the evil one and their deeds. We are grown to inherit the joy of the Lord, they the sorrow of His judgment. In His wisdom God allows both simultaneously in His harvest field.

First the blade and then the ear
Then the full corn shall appear

The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. Mark 4:28 ESV

There is a process involved in all things that grow. It is unmistakable and undeniable. Nothing gets to skip steps. Things start small and grow into their full size with time. That principle is true in both the natural and spiritual realms. What are you growing to become?

Lord of harvest grant that we
Wholesome grain and pure may be

Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’” Matthew 13:30 ESV

We want to grow and be the wheat that is gathered into the barn. We want to be that wholesome and pure grain. Grain the Lord of the Harvest will be delighted to take us to our eternal harvest-home. Are you looking forward to that day when the angels take you there?

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more, with the refrain

All the world is God’s own field
Fruit unto His praise to yield
Wheat and tares together sown
Unto joy or sorrow grown
First the blade and then the ear
Then the full corn shall appear
Lord of harvest grant that we
Wholesome grain and pure may be

Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, Be Resonant.

The post Growing Toward Maturity appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attribution
First the blade and then the ear Then the full corn shall appear – https://pixabay.com/photos/corn-cornfield-ripe-harvest-917354/
Lord of harvest grant that we Wholesome grain and pure may be – https://pixabay.com/photos/barley-ear-grain-close-up-nature-3472570/

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Harvest: An Illustration of All Things Spiritual

All the world is God’s own field Fruit unto His praise to yield

All the world is God’s own field
Fruit unto His praise to yield
Wheat and tares together sown
Unto joy or sorrow grown
First the blade and then the ear
Then the full corn shall appear
Lord of harvest grant that we
Wholesome grain and pure may be

 Come, Ye Thankful People Come 1844
By: Henry Alford (1810-1871)

Listen to this modern version of this seasonal hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Below is video content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Please enjoy this video and the transcript below.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

As we continue our journey through this seasonal prepare yourself to come and praise. Prepare yourself but also be ready to issue to eh call to others to join you. What better time than this season of Thanksgiving? Let’s tune our hearts.

Harvest Field

This stanza creates a powerful illustration of spiritual life using the imagery of the harvest. The first part of that illustration is the world which represents the field where the harvest grows. That field encompasses not just part of the world, but all of it.

Everything we see has the potential to be fertile soil where God accomplishes His Divine purposes. At times it may seem as though  God’s purposes are no where to be seen, but truthfully every square inch of the globe has the capacity to be a part of God’s ever growing harvest.

All the world is God’s own field
Fruit unto His praise to yield

And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, and they shall be secure in their land. And they shall know that I am the Lord…Ezekiel 34:27a ESV

Part of how God reveals His glory to us is through the bounty of the earth. That fruit should prompt praise from us as much as it is praise itself. That bounty is at the same time an illustration of God’s work in our spiritual lives as He grows us up for the praise of His grace.

What an amazing thought that God is producing fruit that will bring Him praise across the entire world! You are an example of that and so are millions of others all across the globe. The Lord of the Harvest is busy cultivating His praise in the lives of many. Thank Him for being one of them.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and think about the world. It can be a very hard and at times hopeless place, but that is not the intent of our God. Ask the Spirit to help you see the potential all around you, then make this your simple prayer today “God, thank You for cultivating the fruit of praise in me.” 

Good and Bad

Wheat and tares together sown Unto joy or sorrow grown

Having established the setting for our illustration the attention turns to our main characters. Every good story has a protagonist and an antagonist. This is a telling of the best story ever told so it has those key elements of course.

It is not uncommon for good and bad to co-exist, and this illustration is not exception. Actually that co-existence is a crucial element of the story itself and creates an incredible tension that will not be resolved the end. Good and evil, joy and sorrow building to an unmistakable climax at the end of the ages.

The world is the place where this wonderful drama takes place. God is growing a harvest for His glory. That harvest which He will eventually gather to Himself is the sons of the kingdom.

Wheat and tares together sown
Unto joy or sorrow grown

The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, Matthew 13:38 ESV

But we are not the only things growing in this good field. There are bad things growing as well, the sons of the evil one and their deeds. We are grown to inherit the joy of the Lord, they the sorrow of His judgment. In His wisdom God allows both simultaneously in His harvest field.

But not all that is growing is good. God allows weeds to grow among the fruit. Why He allows bad things to grow even among the good is something that is difficult for us to understand. Ask God for the wisdom to tell the difference and the grace to grow toward joy.

RESONATE!

Take a few moments and reflect on the players in this great drama. Realizing what is happening around provides us a context for understanding why there can be so much tension in life. Good and evil are co-existing in this age and being aware of that can help us deal with it much better. Pray a simple prayer like this one, “Spirit, give me wisdom and grace.” 

God, thank You for the illustration of the harvest. It teaches me lessons about spiritual life that help me to make sense of the tensions I feel at times. Help me to keep these truths ever before me. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Illustrative Tuning!

Keep coming back, and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence. We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.

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Video 34.2 Transcript

 Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.

All the world is God’s own field
Fruit unto His praise to yield
Wheat and tares together sown
Unto joy or sorrow grown
First the blade and then the ear
Then the full corn shall appear
Lord of harvest grant that we
Wholesome grain and pure may be

What an amazing thought that God is producing fruit that will bring Him praise across the entire world! You are an example of that and so are millions of others all across the globe. The Lord of the Harvest is busy cultivating His praise in the lives of many. Thank Him for being one of them.

God, thank You for cultivating the fruit of praise in me.

But not all that is growing is good. God allows weeds to grow among the fruit. Why He allows bad things to grow even among the good is something that is difficult for us to understand. Ask God for the wisdom to tell the difference and the grace to grow toward joy.

Spirit, give me wisdom and grace.

Growth is a gradual process. It happens little by little. Though there are likely some weeds around you, how are you growing to yield the mature fruit God has in mind for you? Ask Him to show you the incremental steps you can take to become that fruit.

Jesus, show me how to grow.

Wholesome and pure grain. That is what the Lord of the Harvest has in mind for each of us to become. Free of spot or blemish. What imperfections in your life do you need the Lord of the Harvest to heal so you can become that grain? Ask for His help in surrendering those?

Lord, help me surrender my imperfections.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.

Sing

Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, Be Resonant.

The post Harvest: An Illustration of All Things Spiritual appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
All the world is God’s own field Fruit unto His praise to yield – https://pixabay.com/photos/earth-globe-planet-world-space-11015/
Wheat and tares together sown Unto joy or sorrow grown – https://pixabay.com/photos/wheat-close-up-weed-wheat-ear-1526696/

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