Isaiah 28:23-29 (NLT)
23 Listen to me; listen, and pay close attention. 24 Does a farmer always plow and never sow? Is he forever cultivating the soil and never planting? 25 Does he not finally plant his seeds— black cumin, cumin, wheat, barley, and emmer wheat— each in its proper way, and each in its proper place? 26 The farmer knows just what to do, for God has given him understanding. 27 A heavy sledge is never used to thresh black cumin; rather, it is beaten with a light stick. A threshing wheel is never rolled on cumin; instead, it is beaten lightly with a flail. 28 Grain for bread is easily crushed, so he doesn’t keep on pounding it. He threshes it under the wheels of a cart, but he doesn’t pulverize it. 29 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is a wonderful teacher, and he gives the farmer great wisdom.
I love the word "proper" in this passage: Proper way, proper place. God is a wonderful teacher! He cultivates, preparing the environment we need. He places the seed, and puts us in the exact situations we need to be able to grow. He sows multiple seeds, because none of us are the same, each of us with a specific purposes and specific needs. The farmer knows exactly what to do! I love how He tells us what He doesn't do with every seed. He doesn't use a sledge hammer on black cumin, a threshing wheel is never used on cumin, and He doesn't keep on pounding grain for bread because it is easily crushed. He knows every one of our limitations. Perhaps this is an illustration of Him never giving us more than we can handle. If He never gives more than we can handle, we can take heart in knowing everything we face is something that we can endure. It happens with purpose. Through His perfect process He refines us and harvests us into His food to feed others! Is it a coincidence that all of these grains are used for food? We are the light of the world, and we are here for others! Not through what we have done, but rather by what He is doing in us and through us.
Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)
14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Father,
Thank You for loving us enough to prepare us, plant us, and give us the exact attention we need to become the person You want us to be. Thank You for caring enough about us to never give us more than we can handle through Christ who strengthens us. Amen!
23 Listen to me; listen, and pay close attention. 24 Does a farmer always plow and never sow? Is he forever cultivating the soil and never planting? 25 Does he not finally plant his seeds— black cumin, cumin, wheat, barley, and emmer wheat— each in its proper way, and each in its proper place? 26 The farmer knows just what to do, for God has given him understanding. 27 A heavy sledge is never used to thresh black cumin; rather, it is beaten with a light stick. A threshing wheel is never rolled on cumin; instead, it is beaten lightly with a flail. 28 Grain for bread is easily crushed, so he doesn’t keep on pounding it. He threshes it under the wheels of a cart, but he doesn’t pulverize it. 29 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is a wonderful teacher, and he gives the farmer great wisdom.
I love the word "proper" in this passage: Proper way, proper place. God is a wonderful teacher! He cultivates, preparing the environment we need. He places the seed, and puts us in the exact situations we need to be able to grow. He sows multiple seeds, because none of us are the same, each of us with a specific purposes and specific needs. The farmer knows exactly what to do! I love how He tells us what He doesn't do with every seed. He doesn't use a sledge hammer on black cumin, a threshing wheel is never used on cumin, and He doesn't keep on pounding grain for bread because it is easily crushed. He knows every one of our limitations. Perhaps this is an illustration of Him never giving us more than we can handle. If He never gives more than we can handle, we can take heart in knowing everything we face is something that we can endure. It happens with purpose. Through His perfect process He refines us and harvests us into His food to feed others! Is it a coincidence that all of these grains are used for food? We are the light of the world, and we are here for others! Not through what we have done, but rather by what He is doing in us and through us.
Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)
14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Father,
Thank You for loving us enough to prepare us, plant us, and give us the exact attention we need to become the person You want us to be. Thank You for caring enough about us to never give us more than we can handle through Christ who strengthens us. Amen!