I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been
making it grow (1 Corinthians 3:6).
Paul writes to the Christians in Corinth how neither he nor
Apollos can claim all the credit for their conversion. Paul may have been the
first to tell them about Christ, but Apollos had followed up with faithful
teaching. Working together, they brought the message that resulted in
salvation.
In John 4, Jesus teaches his disciples to be on the lookout
for kingdom opportunities. He borrows two agricultural axioms. The first: Four
months more and then the harvest (NIV
1984, v. 35), is addressed on Day 310 (November 6). The second: One sows
and another reaps (v. 37), was commonly used in a fatalistic sense. One
might do all the hard work, but someone else would surely reap the benefit. But
Jesus applied it in a new way. He taught, like Paul, that evangelism is a team
sport. Paul said one plants and another waters. Jesus said one plants and
another harvests. Same thing.
Nineteenth century preacher Dwight L. Moody preached in
Chicago the night of the great Chicago fire. By popular account he did not give
an altar call and many of those who delayed making a decision for Christ
perished. Moody vowed to never again put off asking for a spiritual commitment.
While I admire Moody’s conviction, I am relieved that the responsibility for
evangelizing lost souls is a shared one.
TODAY’S MEDITATION
Consider that whether you
plant the seed, water or harvest, it is God who makes it grow. How can you do
your part in spreading the good news this week?
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