“So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, ‘Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?’ They went out of the town and were coming to him…
“Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, “There are yet four months, then comes the harvest”? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, “One sows and another reaps.” I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.'”
“Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony… And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.’” John 4:28-30,34-39a,41-42
“He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'” Luke 10:2
“What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth… For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:5-7,9
The will and work of God are ongoing and glorious. Through history He’s invited the people He’s made to be a part, and blesses that privilege with enabling, purpose, and satisfaction. The Samaritan woman’s budding faith compelled her to join the work in a most effective way: people heard her call, saw a difference- the touch of the Almighty in her life- and were eager to know the Source. Many believed, and we can assume the process continued. (Mark 6:34-44)
When we have an encounter with the Almighty, through an ordinary daily word or a spectacular intervention or answer, we can savor it for ourselves or spread a feast. We can store up seeds or scatter them abroad. God continues in His work no matter what, and urges us to participate. Would we offer ourselves to be used for such a time as He has planted us? (Esther 4:14b; Acts 17:26)
What can I say and do that will compel others to seek my Lord? Where will I scatter His seeds of life-changing truth, His supernatural kindness, joy, or love? Where, when, and how will I join the Savior’s work of planting, sowing, reaping? (John 4:46-53)
Jesus was intent on fully accomplishing His Father’s work. Am I? What do my hours, my expenditures, my words, my activities indicate about my life passion? Are my efforts spent on self or others, the temporal or eternal? Our labor for the Lord is never in vain. (John 6:38; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Hebrews 6:10)
Gracious Father, please direct all my labor to that which endures to eternal life. (John 6:27a)
As the rain and snow 