The Harvest

Based on Matthew 13:3-9, explained in verses 18-23

Matthew 13:3-9

3 And He told them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and they sprang up immediately, because they had no depth of soil. 6 But after the sun rose, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. 8 But others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much. 9 The one who has ears, let him hear.”

explained in verses 18-23

18 “Listen then to the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one sown with seed beside the road. 20 The one sown with seed on the rocky places, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution occurs because of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 And the one sown with seed among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 But the one sown with seed on the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much.”

The Harvest

By Chelsea Chatterton

Ode to my garden

I decided to grow

A lush and ripe foodstore

Will thrive, this I know

My confidence boosted

By ignorance’s boast

Big dreams of green vines

Climbing up every post

A garden, a garden

Quite clear in my mind

Success enjoyed greatly

Right down to the rind

A process in learning

It’d turn out to be

Pathetic, pale leaves

Instead of a tree

And some fruit full size

Upon one small bite

Brings such bitter taste

Failed to yield feast’s delight

At times I’d discover

I had nourished a weed

With no wisdom or knowledge

Watered wrong seed

And then once I thought

I’d earned my green thumb

Green growth now abounding

Blooms faced to the sun

The pests would creep in

By the droves and devour

My beautiful garden

With vengeance, I’d scour

The backs of the leaves

Like battle full-bore

Attempting to cleanse

Each stem to the core

Passing years in the garden

I’ve seen what won’t grow

The climate, the soil

As I kneel down so low

Desiring fruit,

Food good to eat

Correcting and learning,

Rejecting defeat

I look to God’s Word

Where wisdom abounds

The secret, I’d learn

It starts in the ground

The soil, the richness

The depth and the roots

Must provide all to nourish

For strong, healthy shoots

I see Christ’s own body,

The people, the Church

Frustrated in planting

Many lost in the search

I see birds snatch away

Seeds exposed to the air

Not safely in soil

Uncovered, laid bare

The enemy poised

Upon each person’s heart

Stealing and thieving

Before growth can start

And the sun’s scorching heat

Burns a tender young sprout

Shallow roots in the rocks

Moisture quickly ran out

Oh, I look and observe

Many stunted in growth

The world, love of money

Hearts affected by both

Some choking, not thriving

It’s beginning was quick

Malnourished and robbed

Faith’s flower grown sick

And the seed that was sown

In the right kind of soil

Sustained and well tended

Through work and through toil

Lush, green and rooted

Healthy, well fed

Resistant to pests

Tucked safe in the bed

Rooted in Truth

And fed by God’s Word

Faith comes by hearing

And hearts being stirred

When soil is rich

And none snatch away,

Life’s weeds can’t choke out

Aromatic bouquets

We see the Church growing

In vigor and power

Mature and increasing

Understanding the hour

There’s no time to waste

The harvest is ripe

The season upon us

Time to share love of Christ

The foundation, the soil

Determines success

Will faith flourish and bloom

Overcoming sin’s death?

Fellow Worker, we’re called!

There’s a harvest to tend

We can plant, sometimes reap

But Christ has to amend...

The soil in hearts

Is beyond our control

But the work remains ours

For this is our role

To venture out planting

And spreading good seeds

Like mustard and fig trees

We must see the need

For Christ paid the price

In His death,

This we know

The least we can do is …

To go out and sow!