Acts 16:14

“One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.”
ESV Acts 16:14

Have you ever thought of the Apostle Paul as a farmer? The mention of Paul’s name probably conjures up a lot of images, but the image of a farmer is probably not high on your list. To think of him as an evangelist would certainly be valid. So would that of a tent maker; but farmer? Yes.

Think about it with me for a moment. Prior to planting season, while the ground is still frozen, farmers are busy making plans as to what they will plant and where they will plant it. This is the season of preparation. Similarly, Paul had gone through a season of preparation as he learned the gospel and was led by the Holy Spirit to share it with the gentile nations. Hence, Paul had a season of preparation just like a farmer.

Next, comes planting season. The farmer carefully tills the soil and places the seeds in the ground with the hope that each one will take root and ultimately yield a bountiful crop at harvest. Similarly, Paul sowed seeds by preaching the gospel in his mission field with hopes that the gospel would take root and that each hearer would ultimately bear fruit by trusting in Jesus for their salvation.

But have you noticed that sometimes our farmers have bountiful crops while at other times the yield seems short? Even though they till seemingly fertile soil, plant good seed and have a decent environment, sometimes the yield is bountiful and sometimes it isn’t. The same was true of Paul’s ministry. Sometimes folks responded to his message of truth by believing in Jesus and sometimes they didn’t; even though Paul preached essentially the same message wherever he went.

Now, have you ever given any thought to what happens between planting and harvest? Have you ever marveled at the mystery of exactly what goes on to transform a seed into a plant? I’ve got a friend who is a biologist, and I’m sure that he could give me all kinds of scientific explanations as to what transpires. But before he finished, he would smile and say something like ‘Kenny, I can’t explain it all; it’s a miracle from God.’

And the same is true here with the story of Lydia. Paul is on his second missionary journey; planting the gospel seed. He has felt compelled by the Holy Spirit through a vision to cross into Europe to do his planting. And there the seed takes root in the heart of this European business woman and she believes. Omitting the details of how a heart is changed, the text tells us that it is a blessing from God. Notice that between hearing (planting) and harvest (belief) that “The Lord opened her heart…” A changed heart is the work of God.

I’ve mentioned it here before, and I’m not certain who should be credited with the quote, but as a young adult I had a Sunday School teacher burn the definition of a successful witness into my mind: “Sharing Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and leaving the results to God.”

With that, let me encourage you to be like Paul. Be a faithful farmer. Plant the gospel seed wherever your travels take you and pray that God would bless your planting with a bountiful harvest.

Ken worships at Tharptown Baptist Church where he teaches an adult Sunday School class. Comments on his column may be sent to kenaskew@charter.net.

Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
ESV Matthew 28:18-20

Focused. That may be the best word to describe the Gospel of Matthew. It opens with an announcement of the virgin birth. Verse 21 of the first chapter announces that a child would be born and he would be called Jesus because “he will save his people from their sins.” And down just two verses, Matthew quotes the prophet Isaiah, alerting us to Jesus’ true and divine nature; “they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us).”

So Matthew begins with a focus on the much anticipated arrival of Jesus and ends in chapter 28 with a promise from Jesus; “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Isn’t this great news? Jesus, who was born of a virgin, hunted by kings, despised by many, and tempted by Satan himself, lived a perfectly righteous life, endured persecution for our sake, and finally conquered even death itself. This same Jesus promises that he will be with us from now on!

Jesus says a lot in these few verses in Matthew in addition to his promise to be with us always. He begins by telling the disciples that “all authority in heaven and earth” is his. Now, isn’t it encouraging knowing that Jesus, who conquered even death, now has all authority? As Christians, we don’t celebrate and worship a powerless Savior. We celebrate and worship a conquering King; the Righteous One.

We find, sandwiched between this fact and his promise, that Jesus gives specific instructions for Christian living and witness. He told the disciples to go and make disciples (followers); to baptize in the name of the Father (Creator), Son (Savior), and Holy Spirit (Helper); and to teach all that he had commanded them while they were with him to all nations. In essence, Jesus gives marching orders to his church in these verses. These are standing orders, known as The Great Commission, and are applicable to us even today.

With that in mind, and thinking back over the last several articles, my prayer for you this week is this: May you be like Habakkuk, conscious of unrighteousness in our community and moved to pray that God would intercede. Like Paul, may your spirit be provoked when you see people worshipping all manner of created things instead of the Creator. Like Stephen, may you be bold in your witness and empowered to share the truth against all opposition; even unto death. Finally, may God grant you the wisdom, strength and desire to prove yourself a neighbor.

Thinking back over the articles dealing with neighbors these last several weeks, can you think of a better way to prove yourself as a neighbor than by following through on our marching orders? “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

Ken worships at Tharptown Baptist Church where he teaches an adult Sunday School class. Comments on his column may be sent to kenaskew@charter.net.

Who is my Neighbor?

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
ESV Luke 10:29

Ministry in action. That’s the best way I know to describe Luke chapter ten. A lot of great things are happening. Jesus has been sending out followers, two by two, into towns where he would be passing through. They went into these towns ministering to the needs of the residents and announcing that ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ The frontrunners return overjoyed that even demons are subject to them in Jesus name. But Jesus reminds them that their joy should rest in the fact that their names are written in heaven and not that demons were subject to them. And Jesus gives thanks that miracles are being wrought by ordinary folks; referring to them as “little children.”

It is against this backdrop that a lawyer stands up to test Jesus with a question. Though we are not told explicitly in the text, the biblical setting seems to support that this guy would have been an expert in religious law; someone from whom you would seek counsel in religious matters.

Now, I ask you, what do you know about lawyers? OK…be nice now! Several things come to mind when I ponder this question. But I submit to you just this one: A lawyer never asks a question in a public forum that he does not presume to know the answer to. So, this lawyer stands up to test Jesus by asking: “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

Surprisingly, the lawyer and Jesus agree on the answer in verse 27: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” But the lawyer has this nagging question in the back of his mind…who is my neighbor? For the lawyer, it was the question of the day. Perhaps he thought his neighbors were other lawyers; the Pharisees perhaps; other religious leaders maybe. Though we don’t have time to expound on it here, it is highly unlikely that the lawyer would consider a Samaritan as his neighbor.

But at this point, Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan. You know the story well. Three different people come upon a man who had fallen victim to foul play and left half dead on the roadway. The first two (both religious leaders) passed him by for reasons untold. The third was a Samaritan; a most unlikely candidate to lend assistance. But we know from Scripture that he did. He had compassion on the victim and went out of his way to lend a hand.

At the end of the parable, Jesus turns the tables and asks the lawyer: “Which of these three, do you think, proved [emphasis mine] to be a neighbor?” They agree that it is the one who showed mercy and Jesus commands the lawyer to go and do likewise.

Did you notice how Jesus changed the question? The designation of ‘neighbor’ no longer hinges on whether someone is physically located near me. Nor does it seem to matter what someone’s social status is. Ethnic background is thrown out the window as well. Jesus puts the emphasis on you, me and our actions. To whom can we prove to be a neighbor?

Reach out to someone today regardless of race, gender, age or social status. Help with a physical need; share your faith in Jesus; prove yourself to be a neighbor.

-Ken Askew