October 11, 2015

Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: LEAD

Drawing pencils are great to work with if you know what you are doing.  Each pencil possesses a "value".  The value is determined by how hard or how soft the "lead" is.  Pencils that are "H" have harder lead and create a lighter mark.  Pencils that are "B" are softer lead and create a darker mark.  .  I've worked with students in the past that refused to pay attention to the pencil they were using.  They would create an entire work using an H, and then wonder why their picture lacked variety in its value.  I've had student that would only use a higher value B, and they couldn't understand why their picture was so dark and smudged up.  However, I've also had students that were ready & willing to listen, think about, and apply the information I had taught.  Though not perfect, those students produced works that were much more successful than their peers who were not ready or willing.  I will always choose to teach my WHOLE class.  I hold out hope that something will sink in or take root, even if I do not see the "fruit" of my efforts.

Then He told them many things in parables, saying:  " A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil.  It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.  Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop - a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.  Whoever has ears, let them hear. "   Matthew 13: 3-9

Jesus made it clear through this parable that not everyone that heard the Truth would receive it.  It might even be the clearest most thorough presentation of the gospel ever given.   However, for many reasons people reject/dismiss God.  We can not see "the soil" of their heart.  We must continue to sow the seeds, and allow God to do the work that only He can do in their life.  As we go out with His Word, we might only speak His name before we are "rejected".  We might share the same thing with the same person over and over again, but never see any fruit come out of it. No matter the situation, we must be faithful with what we've heard God speak to us.  We must do what He has called us to do.  As a teacher, there are days I feel like I'm making little to no impact....and I just want to through in the towel & give up.  Then I come across a work of art that lets me know someone is listening...someone is taking the things I'm teaching and applying them....and someone is changed because of my being willing to press on even when I don't feel like I'm making a difference. Sowing the seeds may not feel as rewarding as harvesting the fruit, but it is necessary!  

PRAYER
Lord, thank you for choosing to use us!  
So often we feel frustrated when we do not see "fruit".
Let us find joy in speaking Your name, sharing Your Word, 
and letting them know who You are in our life!
Prepare us to sow the seeds.  
In Christ's Name, Amen

7 comments:

  1. Beautiful words brother - I was running late this morning and thought, "maybe I'll read this later" - but I'm glad I read it now - great way to start the day! Thank you!

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  2. Thank you. I really needed to hear this one.

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  3. Thank you. I really needed to hear this one.

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  4. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 15:11 One of my favs! Thank you!!

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  5. Truth. Praise God and thank you for the message.

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  6. Again, timely. Thank you for these devotionals, so good ✏️

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  7. AMEN! and thank you for sharing your faith. As an art teacher I love pointing the kids to the Artist of all creation!

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