What does preparation look like to you?  Just as in preparing the ground to receive seed for planting we must take logical steps if we want to see growth and eventual harvest.    We will see that from a human participation perspective the art is in the preparation.  We do not make the seed, nor the dirt.  We do not produce rain and we certainly don’t make anything grow.  Our job is to prepare the ground and at the right timing plant the seed, fertilize, water and tend it until God produces a crop, at which time it is our responsibility for harvesting that bounty.  This is a cyclical process that begins with the intention to produce a crop.  Everything begins with a free will choice.

As Christian’s we do not need to be concerned about all the questions that a farmer must answer in order to be successful; is it the right soil?, do I have the right machinery?, what time do I plant?, do I have good seed?.  A farmer does not make the sun, the water, the seed, the fertilizer, the wind, the dirt nor does he make anything grow.  His job is as a maintenance engineer, determining into which ground to sow the seed, at what time, when to water, when to fertilize, when to weed, spray and harvest.  As a Christian farmer my job is so much easier; I just spread the seed on the ground and walk away knowing that God will do the rest.  He will water, feed, fertilize, grow and bring the crop to harvest.

It is a MYTH that each disciple must be highly knowledgeable of Biblical History and steep themselves in the ontological arguments for God.  It is an EXCUSE that each disciple must be gifted with evangelism in order to fulfill the great commission.  Just as any person may plant an apple seed in the ground without being a farmer, we as Christian “ALL” have the ability and responsibility to spread the seed of God’s Word.  We simply have to make the “free will” decision to tell people about Christ, His Grace and How to avoid eternal judgment through confession, repentance and faith.  The Holy Spirit will even provide the words for us to say if we leave it to Him as the Bible says.  Since we do not have to prepare as a farmer to plant the crops what is our responsibility?  The responsibility of each Christian is to prepare our hearts to receive the Holy Spirit’s Word.  To tend our own ground making sure that our walks are blameless so that we may keep our vessels clean to be the vehicles for carrying the “Water of Life” to a thirsty world.  And finally our responsibility is to prepare to do the work and when the timing presents itself to share the Good News that we ACT.  I implore you to prepare your heart, maintain your land and when called upon by the Holy Spirit to spread the seed of the Good News of Christ that you sow that seed in love and in truth.