31-Jan-2024 – The spoiled produce of the seed can be restored
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. -Joel 2:25-26
Today is the last day of this month and so is our daily devotionals based on the topic of “the seed”. Till now, we saw how God taught us multiple aspects of the seeds. Like what can be a seed in our life, what is the ground to sow in and how various things influences the seed growth etc. Today God is teaching about something different to provide us the hope.
In the above referred verse, God is talking about the restoration of the lost fruit. If we read from previous chapters in the same book –
That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten. -Joel 1:4
There was a loss and the produce of the seed is devoured by various worms. Now the situation is hopeless. But God is still giving a second chance. Now if you do something, the loss can be restored.
Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? -Joel 2:12-14
Our God is the God who gives the seed to the sower. Our God is the God who enables the servants to till the ground. Our God is the God who sends the former rain and the later rain. Our God is the God who blesses the produce of the seed so that we could reap abundantly and praise him in satisfaction. For everything good comes from our God who is loving, caring and kind hearted.
If we apply this to our lives, we could have started something. It could be a career option, or a ministry work or something with an expectation of getting some benefits. But due to our lack of fellowship and the relationship with God in the way it is expected to be, we make our ground full of rocks and thorns. These will prevent the produce of the seed to reach the final harvest stage. These becomes the cankerworms and palmerworms and eats and spoil the expected results.
But even in that case, our gracious God provides another opportunity for all of us. Analyze how we started, understand where we side tracked. Confess before God honestly. Trust him and wait upon him. Then he will open supernatural doors to restore the loss.
Overall for our physical and spiritual growth whatever may be the seed. But the ground would be the relationship and the fellowship with God through His Son Jesus and His Holy Spirit. Then whatever may be the situation, stage or struggle in the process. Definitely, we will not see loss. Out God takes the responsibility of protecting our work just like a father supporting his child’s work, even more than that.
Prayer
Dear loving heavenly Father, thank you for giving us another chance to set right the things and paving a way to restore the lost opportunities. Help us not to be stubborn when your word penetrates into our heart. Thank you for giving me hope to restore the blessings of the work that I initiated. Help me to rely upon you. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
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