Running to the Harvest
Running to the Harvest: A Call to Radical Discipleship
There's a season approaching—or perhaps it's already here—when the fields are ripe and ready for harvest. But here's the uncomfortable truth: most of us aren't prepared for what it will require.
The Reality of Harvest
Harvest isn't glamorous. Anyone who's worked a real harvest knows this. It means rising hours before sunrise and returning home hours after sunset. It means no days off, no sick days, no excuses. When the fruit is ripe, everything else becomes secondary. Miss the harvest window, and the entire year's work is lost.
This agricultural reality mirrors a spiritual truth we often overlook: bringing in God's harvest requires everything we have.
The harvest is described as "great"—a word meaning unknowable or mysterious. We don't know where we're going, who we'll meet, or what we'll be called to do. We're as clueless as a farmer who doesn't know fruit trees need bees for pollination or that fields need warming when frost threatens the blossoms.
And yet, God wants to send us into this mysterious, abundant harvest.
This agricultural reality mirrors a spiritual truth we often overlook: bringing in God's harvest requires everything we have.
The harvest is described as "great"—a word meaning unknowable or mysterious. We don't know where we're going, who we'll meet, or what we'll be called to do. We're as clueless as a farmer who doesn't know fruit trees need bees for pollination or that fields need warming when frost threatens the blossoms.
And yet, God wants to send us into this mysterious, abundant harvest.
Following Jesus Isn't What We Think
In Luke 9:23, Jesus makes a statement that should shake us from our comfortable Christianity: "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."
Notice what's missing from this verse? Any mention of "just believe" or "easy faith."
Jesus continues with words that challenge our modern theology: "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it."
This isn't about intellectual assent to doctrine. This is about a complete reorientation of priorities. It's about making Jesus—not family, not career, not comfort, not even our own lives—the absolute center of everything.
Notice what's missing from this verse? Any mention of "just believe" or "easy faith."
Jesus continues with words that challenge our modern theology: "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it."
This isn't about intellectual assent to doctrine. This is about a complete reorientation of priorities. It's about making Jesus—not family, not career, not comfort, not even our own lives—the absolute center of everything.
The Cost of Discipleship
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus confronts people with the real cost of following Him:
To the enthusiastic follower who promised to go wherever Jesus went, He responded: "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head" (Luke 9:58). Following Jesus isn't a luxury cruise. There will be hardships.
To the one who wanted to bury his father first (likely meaning waiting for his inheritance), Jesus said: "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:60). The harvest can't wait for our convenience.
To the one who wanted to say goodbye to family, Jesus declared: "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62).
This last image is particularly striking. When plowing a field, looking back creates crooked rows, reducing the harvest yield. In the spiritual harvest, every soul matters. We can't afford to look back at what we're leaving behind.
To the enthusiastic follower who promised to go wherever Jesus went, He responded: "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head" (Luke 9:58). Following Jesus isn't a luxury cruise. There will be hardships.
To the one who wanted to bury his father first (likely meaning waiting for his inheritance), Jesus said: "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:60). The harvest can't wait for our convenience.
To the one who wanted to say goodbye to family, Jesus declared: "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62).
This last image is particularly striking. When plowing a field, looking back creates crooked rows, reducing the harvest yield. In the spiritual harvest, every soul matters. We can't afford to look back at what we're leaving behind.
Sent Into the Harvest
In Luke 10:1-2, we find Jesus sending out seventy disciples "into every city and place where He Himself was about to go."
Read that again. When we obey God, He sends us to places He wants to go. And what did Jesus do everywhere He went? He healed the sick, cast out demons, and proclaimed the kingdom.
Read that again. When we obey God, He sends us to places He wants to go. And what did Jesus do everywhere He went? He healed the sick, cast out demons, and proclaimed the kingdom.
The same calling rests on us.
Jesus told these disciples: "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few." The harvest is unknowably vast, mysteriously abundant—and we're woefully unprepared.
But preparation doesn't come from more Bible knowledge alone. It comes from radical obedience.
But preparation doesn't come from more Bible knowledge alone. It comes from radical obedience.
No Excuses Accepted
In Matthew 10, Jesus warns His followers: "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28).
The fear of man will not be accepted as an excuse for silence.
"Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32-33).
This is sobering. We will be held accountable for whether we speak what God gives us to speak to the people He brings across our path—even the angry-looking stranger, even the person acting erratically on the street, even the family member who doesn't want to hear it.
The fear of man will not be accepted as an excuse for silence.
"Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32-33).
This is sobering. We will be held accountable for whether we speak what God gives us to speak to the people He brings across our path—even the angry-looking stranger, even the person acting erratically on the street, even the family member who doesn't want to hear it.
The Question of Priorities
The story of the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16-22) isn't really about money. It's about priorities.
When he asked what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus told him to keep the commandments. The young man claimed he'd done this since his youth. But something was missing, and he knew it.
Jesus put His finger on it: "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
The young man walked away sorrowful, choosing his possessions over a relationship with God.
How often do we do the same? Maybe not with money, but with comfort, reputation, time, entertainment, or family approval?
Jesus makes it clear: "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me" (Matthew 10:37).
When he asked what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus told him to keep the commandments. The young man claimed he'd done this since his youth. But something was missing, and he knew it.
Jesus put His finger on it: "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
The young man walked away sorrowful, choosing his possessions over a relationship with God.
How often do we do the same? Maybe not with money, but with comfort, reputation, time, entertainment, or family approval?
Jesus makes it clear: "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me" (Matthew 10:37).
The Impossible Made Possible
When the disciples heard Jesus say it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom, they asked, "Who then can be saved?"
Jesus' answer is the key to everything: "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).
We cannot do what God has called us to do in our own strength. We absolutely need the Holy Spirit. We need Him to speak through us, to heal through us, to lead us to the right people at the right time with the right words.
The harvest is impossible—but with God, all things are possible.
Jesus' answer is the key to everything: "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).
We cannot do what God has called us to do in our own strength. We absolutely need the Holy Spirit. We need Him to speak through us, to heal through us, to lead us to the right people at the right time with the right words.
The harvest is impossible—but with God, all things are possible.
Not Our Will, But Yours
In Gethsemane, facing unimaginable pressure, Jesus prayed: "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will" (Matthew 26:39).
This is the ultimate question for each of us: Are we seeking the Father's will? Are we willing to go places we don't want to go, do things we're uncomfortable doing, speak to people we'd rather avoid—all to align ourselves with His purposes?
This is the ultimate question for each of us: Are we seeking the Father's will? Are we willing to go places we don't want to go, do things we're uncomfortable doing, speak to people we'd rather avoid—all to align ourselves with His purposes?
The Call to Feed His Sheep
After the resurrection, Jesus asked Peter three times: "Do you love Me?" Each time Peter affirmed his love, Jesus responded with a command: "Feed My lambs... Tend My sheep... Feed My sheep" (John 21:15-17).
If we love Jesus more than anything else in our lives, we are called to serve others—not just serve them, but care for them, love them, tend them, treat them the way we would want Jesus to treat us.
If we love Jesus more than anything else in our lives, we are called to serve others—not just serve them, but care for them, love them, tend them, treat them the way we would want Jesus to treat us.
Running to the Harvest
The fields are ripe. The harvest is ready. The season is here.
But it will require more than we've ever given before. It will require:
This isn't a call to joyless drudgery. Quite the opposite. This is the most exciting, rewarding, and enjoyable life we could possibly live—running to the battle, knowing we will win the victory.
The question isn't whether the harvest is ready. The question is: Are we?
But it will require more than we've ever given before. It will require:
- Focus: Like driving at high speed through dangerous curves, we cannot afford distractions
- Priority: The kingdom must be first, above family, career, comfort, and possessions
- Obedience: Immediate response without debate, delay, or resistance
- Dependence: Complete reliance on the Holy Spirit for everything
- Sacrifice: Losing our lives to find them
This isn't a call to joyless drudgery. Quite the opposite. This is the most exciting, rewarding, and enjoyable life we could possibly live—running to the battle, knowing we will win the victory.
The question isn't whether the harvest is ready. The question is: Are we?
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Walking in Faith
June 15th, 2026
Don't Grow WearyDon't Grow Weary: Finding Strength for the Good Work God Has Called You To Have you ever felt exhausted from doing the right thing? Maybe you've been serving faithfully, giving generously, or consistently showing up for others, yet you find yourself running on empty. The weariness sets in, and what once felt purposeful now feels like a burden. This struggle is as old as the early church. In Galatians 6:9, we find this powerful encouragement: "Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." Notice the scripture doesn't say "if" we grow weary—it assumes we will face this challenge. The real question isn't whether weariness will come, but why it happens and how we can overcome it. Understanding What "Good" Really Means Before we can avoid growing weary in doing good, we need to understand what "good" truly means. In our culture, "good" has become diluted. We use it to describe used items on marketplace listings or mediocre experiences. But biblical "good" means something entirely different. The 1828 Webster's Dictionary defines good as "valid, legally firm, not weak or defective, complete or sufficiently perfect in its kind." When God looked at the light He created in Genesis and declared it "good," He wasn't giving it a passing grade—He was declaring it complete and perfect. The "good work" we're called to isn't just any charitable activity. It's work with eternal purpose. First Corinthians 15:58 clarifies this: "Always excel in work you do for the Lord. You know that the hard work you do for the Lord is not pointless." There's a difference between a beach cleanup and taking a friend to lunch with the intention of having a Jesus conversation. Both can be good, but one has temporary benefits while the other can have eternal impact. The question we must ask ourselves is: What is the outcome and purpose of what we're doing? Is it bringing others to know Jesus or helping them become more like Him? Three Reasons We Grow Weary 1. We're Not Filled With the Right Things Imagine going to the movies and loading up on popcorn, candy, soda, and all the treats. It tastes amazing in the moment, but afterward, you feel terrible—bloated, greasy, and unable to eat a proper meal. You've filled yourself with junk that can't sustain you. The same happens spiritually. When we fill ourselves with watered-down teachings, social media snippets of faith, or inconsistent spiritual intake, we're consuming junk food for our souls. We might survive, but we won't thrive. First John 2:15-17 warns us: "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." What we consume determines how we respond. When someone complains about traffic, do we join in the negativity, or do we respond with gratitude for a paid-off car and enough gas to sit in that traffic? Colossians 2:9-10 reminds us that "in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him." When we fill ourselves with Him, we become complete. We won't grow weary because we're sustained by what truly nourishes. The solution? Desire God over the things of this world. Build yourself up in your most holy faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, and keep yourself in the love of God (Jude 1:20). 2. We Don't Have a Big Enough Appetite We eat to have energy for activity. If we don't eat enough for the task ahead, our muscles get sore, we become weak, and we can't complete what we set out to do. The same is true spiritually. Hebrews 5:12-14 addresses this directly: "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food... But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Milk keeps us alive, but solid food makes us grow. If we're satisfied with occasional church attendance—the spiritual equivalent of Easter and Christmas visits—we're living on samples, not sustenance. We need a consistent, deeper pursuit of God. Our appetite determines our capacity—our capacity for giving, for serving, for doing the good work God has called us to. If we don't grow our appetite, we won't have the strength for what He's calling us to do. Think about starting a workday without breakfast. At first, you're fine, but as the day wears on, every task becomes harder. Rolling up an extension cord feels like climbing a mountain. That's what happens when our spiritual intake isn't enough for our spiritual assignment. Matthew 5:6 promises: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." Consider the woman with the issue of blood. Her hunger and desire for healing drove her to push through the crowd, reach out, and touch Jesus. Her faith—fueled by her hunger—made her whole. How is our hunger for God? Are we pushing through obstacles to touch Him? 3. We Don't Exercise What We Have Eating provides energy for completing tasks, but if we never complete those tasks, the energy just sits and gets stored as useless fat. Similarly, when we continuously take in spiritual knowledge without exercising it, that knowledge becomes useless. Jesus told a parable about this in Luke 12:16-21. A rich man kept building bigger barns to store his abundance, planning to take life easy. But God called him a fool, saying, "I will demand your life from you tonight Then who will get what you have accumulated?" The passage concludes: "That's how it is when a person has material riches but is not rich in his relationship with God." Are we hoarding the revelations we receive in our daily Bible reading? Are we keeping the testimonies of what God has done in our lives to ourselves? This hoarding reveals either a lack of trust in God or a shallow personal relationship with Him. First Peter 4:10 instructs: "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." Exercising what we have means being disciple-makers, helping others become more like Jesus. In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul tells Timothy: "The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." That's the multiplication effect God desires—we receive from Him, share with others, who then share with others, spreading like wildfire. The Promise of Harvest The principle of sowing and reaping runs throughout Scripture. When we sow into our relationship with God, we reap knowledge, revelation, and testimonies. When we sow those things into others, we reap increase to replace what was sown. Second Corinthians 9:6 tells us: "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." God doesn't leave us empty. When we sow into good ground, He replaces what we've sown. Luke 6:38 promises: "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom." When we sow our knowledge, revelations, and testimonies into others, we don't just reap personal increase—we reap a harvest of transformed lives. We're in a season of harvest, and it takes us doing good without growing weary to see that harvest come. Let Your Light Shine Jesus declared in Matthew 5:13-16 that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We're not meant to lose our flavor or hide our light under a basket. Instead, we're to let our light shine before others so they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. That's the ultimate goal—that our family, friends, and community would come to glorify God because of what they see in us. Your Challenge This Week This week, evaluate what you're doing. What are the outcomes? Are you pursuing things that bring temporary satisfaction or eternal purpose? Are they helping others become more like Jesus? Begin to take in more of what is good. Desire Him more. Let the first thing you do when you wake up be reaching for Him with hunger and desire. Then exercise what you gain by sharing it with others. Don't grow weary in doing good. In His season, in His timing, you will reap if you do not lose heart. The harvest is coming, and you're called to be part of it.
June 1st, 2026
Living From the Inside Out
May 26th, 2026
The Superpower of Prayer
May 17th, 2026
Call to Nurture
May 12th, 2026
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Don't Grow WearyDon't Grow Weary: Finding Strength for the Good Work God Has Called You To Have you ever felt exhausted from doing the right thing? Maybe you've been serving faithfully, giving generously, or consistently showing up for others, yet you find yourself running on empty. The weariness sets in, and what once felt purposeful now feels like a burden. This struggle is as old as the early church. In Galatians 6:9, we find this powerful encouragement: "Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." Notice the scripture doesn't say "if" we grow weary—it assumes we will face this challenge. The real question isn't whether weariness will come, but why it happens and how we can overcome it. Understanding What "Good" Really Means Before we can avoid growing weary in doing good, we need to understand what "good" truly means. In our culture, "good" has become diluted. We use it to describe used items on marketplace listings or mediocre experiences. But biblical "good" means something entirely different. The 1828 Webster's Dictionary defines good as "valid, legally firm, not weak or defective, complete or sufficiently perfect in its kind." When God looked at the light He created in Genesis and declared it "good," He wasn't giving it a passing grade—He was declaring it complete and perfect. The "good work" we're called to isn't just any charitable activity. It's work with eternal purpose. First Corinthians 15:58 clarifies this: "Always excel in work you do for the Lord. You know that the hard work you do for the Lord is not pointless." There's a difference between a beach cleanup and taking a friend to lunch with the intention of having a Jesus conversation. Both can be good, but one has temporary benefits while the other can have eternal impact. The question we must ask ourselves is: What is the outcome and purpose of what we're doing? Is it bringing others to know Jesus or helping them become more like Him? Three Reasons We Grow Weary 1. We're Not Filled With the Right Things Imagine going to the movies and loading up on popcorn, candy, soda, and all the treats. It tastes amazing in the moment, but afterward, you feel terrible—bloated, greasy, and unable to eat a proper meal. You've filled yourself with junk that can't sustain you. The same happens spiritually. When we fill ourselves with watered-down teachings, social media snippets of faith, or inconsistent spiritual intake, we're consuming junk food for our souls. We might survive, but we won't thrive. First John 2:15-17 warns us: "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." What we consume determines how we respond. When someone complains about traffic, do we join in the negativity, or do we respond with gratitude for a paid-off car and enough gas to sit in that traffic? Colossians 2:9-10 reminds us that "in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him." When we fill ourselves with Him, we become complete. We won't grow weary because we're sustained by what truly nourishes. The solution? Desire God over the things of this world. Build yourself up in your most holy faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, and keep yourself in the love of God (Jude 1:20). 2. We Don't Have a Big Enough Appetite We eat to have energy for activity. If we don't eat enough for the task ahead, our muscles get sore, we become weak, and we can't complete what we set out to do. The same is true spiritually. Hebrews 5:12-14 addresses this directly: "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food... But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Milk keeps us alive, but solid food makes us grow. If we're satisfied with occasional church attendance—the spiritual equivalent of Easter and Christmas visits—we're living on samples, not sustenance. We need a consistent, deeper pursuit of God. Our appetite determines our capacity—our capacity for giving, for serving, for doing the good work God has called us to. If we don't grow our appetite, we won't have the strength for what He's calling us to do. Think about starting a workday without breakfast. At first, you're fine, but as the day wears on, every task becomes harder. Rolling up an extension cord feels like climbing a mountain. That's what happens when our spiritual intake isn't enough for our spiritual assignment. Matthew 5:6 promises: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." Consider the woman with the issue of blood. Her hunger and desire for healing drove her to push through the crowd, reach out, and touch Jesus. Her faith—fueled by her hunger—made her whole. How is our hunger for God? Are we pushing through obstacles to touch Him? 3. We Don't Exercise What We Have Eating provides energy for completing tasks, but if we never complete those tasks, the energy just sits and gets stored as useless fat. Similarly, when we continuously take in spiritual knowledge without exercising it, that knowledge becomes useless. Jesus told a parable about this in Luke 12:16-21. A rich man kept building bigger barns to store his abundance, planning to take life easy. But God called him a fool, saying, "I will demand your life from you tonight Then who will get what you have accumulated?" The passage concludes: "That's how it is when a person has material riches but is not rich in his relationship with God." Are we hoarding the revelations we receive in our daily Bible reading? Are we keeping the testimonies of what God has done in our lives to ourselves? This hoarding reveals either a lack of trust in God or a shallow personal relationship with Him. First Peter 4:10 instructs: "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." Exercising what we have means being disciple-makers, helping others become more like Jesus. In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul tells Timothy: "The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." That's the multiplication effect God desires—we receive from Him, share with others, who then share with others, spreading like wildfire. The Promise of Harvest The principle of sowing and reaping runs throughout Scripture. When we sow into our relationship with God, we reap knowledge, revelation, and testimonies. When we sow those things into others, we reap increase to replace what was sown. Second Corinthians 9:6 tells us: "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." God doesn't leave us empty. When we sow into good ground, He replaces what we've sown. Luke 6:38 promises: "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom." When we sow our knowledge, revelations, and testimonies into others, we don't just reap personal increase—we reap a harvest of transformed lives. We're in a season of harvest, and it takes us doing good without growing weary to see that harvest come. Let Your Light Shine Jesus declared in Matthew 5:13-16 that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We're not meant to lose our flavor or hide our light under a basket. Instead, we're to let our light shine before others so they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. That's the ultimate goal—that our family, friends, and community would come to glorify God because of what they see in us. Your Challenge This Week This week, evaluate what you're doing. What are the outcomes? Are you pursuing things that bring temporary satisfaction or eternal purpose? Are they helping others become more like Jesus? Begin to take in more of what is good. Desire Him more. Let the first thing you do when you wake up be reaching for Him with hunger and desire. Then exercise what you gain by sharing it with others. Don't grow weary in doing good. In His season, in His timing, you will reap if you do not lose heart. The harvest is coming, and you're called to be part of it.Walking in Faith
2025
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