This Sunday (or today, depending on when you read this) is Harvest Sunday. It’s been a longstanding tradition that has done a lot of good for a group that is doing a lot of good in our community. It also keeps the preacher a tad more…shall we say….stationary… while preaching.
The group is Carpenter Place. It is a great organization run by members of the Churches of Christ. They provide a Christian home environment for hurting girls who may be struggling with a host of issues. Their mission is to “rebuild families and restore lives.” They are 100% privately funded. Carpenter Place provides everything the young girls need during their time on campus. As you can imagine, they go through food and other supplies quickly.
Thanks to many of you who have been personally involved in visiting, serving, mentoring, and personally helping with the great work going on at Carpenter Place as part of our 2017 Light of Life Project. (And today, in addition to Harvest Sunday, we are going to have one last Light of Life Challenge….and it is going to be so fun!!)
We don’t just do Harvest Sunday out of habit. It is for a purpose. And the purpose is about more than food, it is about letting the light of Jesus shine through us and letting Him use us for His glory. He uses our hearts, our energy, our dollars, our pantry, our time, and our love to help minister to those in dark places. The really cool thing is that, if we will let Him, God will always use us in the Harvest.
Paul put it this way: “Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”
Harvest Sunday is bigger than a single Sunday. Christians are called to a lifestyle of Harvesting every day. It means sharing the Gospel with a neighbor. It means helping a widow or widower. It means serving someone. It means praying with others.
So, let God use YOU in His harvest! Some may plant. Some might water. But, all will grow. (P.S. If you’re reading this in the pew, and forgot to bring food today, you may still bring it tonight.)