Precious SeedPreaching the word, in season and out of season; reproving, rebuking, and exhorting, with complete patience and teaching.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Romans 12:2

Hot, hazy, and humid – a typical August day and perfect for our annual inner tube float down the beautiful Allegheny River. Close to eighty of us shoved off from the Buckaloons campground in the early afternoon. The next few hours promised to be filled with laughter, fun, and a lot of horsing around. One highlight of the float was a particular place in the river where the current picked up and rushed by the bank of one of the islands we would pass. After being pulled through by the current, we would stop and enjoy swinging and dropping into the river from a rope swing.

As we approached the spot where the current picked up, I moved my inner tube over to get into the current. My wife followed on her tube and my three children followed in a small rubber raft. Very quickly, without warning, our afternoon fun turned life-threatening. The river had changed from the year before! Halfway through the area where the current picked up, a tree had fallen into the river. The current was pulling us into the tree. The water was pulling down and rushing under the tree. We tried to paddle out but could not. I reached the tree first. It was all I could do to stay on top of the water. My wife was next and her tube went under. She managed to grab my arm and a limb of the tree. She clung to that limb. My kids were already crying as they rushed toward us. I managed to kick their raft away from the tree. They floated to safety. Some twenty minutes later, a number of men from the church were able to reach Kim and me. We were all safe.

In the day and age we live in, it is easy to get caught in the current of what is popular. Paul wrote in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

The current of the world says, “do for yourself”, “get ahead”, “be first”. Jesus said, “If you want to be first, be last. If you want to be on top, be the servant of all.” The world says, “If it feels good, do it.” Being caught by a ‘current’ like that can be deadly.

As the church, we are the ‘called out ones’ (‘ekklesia’ in Greek). We are to be in the world but not of the world. We don’t follow the flow, current, or pattern of the world. We follow Jesus.

I encourage you to be different, love, be radical, forgive, be transformed, forget about yourself and serve others.

Pastor Jeff York

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

Galatians 6:7-8

Every spring, growing up on a farm, we would plant crops. Alfalfa, corn, and oats would be our main crops. Each summer and fall we would reap a harvest. Now it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that when alfalfa was sown, alfalfa would be reaped. When corn was sown, corn would be harvested and when oats were sown, oats would be reaped in harvest. The principle in nature simply stated is that you will reap what you have sown. But this principle is also true in our own lives as well and can be found throughout the scriptures.

Galatians 6:7-8 says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” As I think on these verses, a couple of examples come to mind from the scriptures.

In Exodus we read the story of Pharaoh and his dealings with the people of God, the Israelites. I find it interesting that Pharaoh ordered every Israelite boy born to be thrown and drowned in the Nile River. Pharaoh sowed hate, murder, and destruction. Some time later we know that Pharaoh’s own son died on the night of the Passover. Also, just as he had desired to destroy the nation of Israel by drowning their children, he and his army were destroyed as God closed the waters of the Red Sea over them.

In the Old Testament book of Esther, a man named Haman despised and hated the people of God. He made a plan to exterminate them. He went so far as to have a great gallows built on which he planned to hang his enemies – especially a man named Mordecai who had been faithful to the Lord.

Would you believe that Haman ended up being hanged on his own gallows! It’s true. He reaped what he had sown.

All of us have a choice in how we sow in life. If we choose to sow “weeds” (hate, discord, gossip, unforgiveness, bitterness, criticism) we are certain to reap the same. But if we choose to sow love, forgiveness, peace, encouragement, goodness, kindness, and the like, we stand to reap such unto eternal life.

Let me encourage all who read this with the words of Paul, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

Day after day, opportunity after opportunity comes our way. Let us do good to all people. Not only will their life see some encouragement, but you will know the blessing of reaping the fruit of the Spirit.

Pastor Jeff York

This is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem: “Break up your unplowed ground and do not sow among thorns.”

Jeremiah 4:3

Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.

Hosea 10:12

Fallow ground is ground that is left unattended. Fallow ground is not cultivated, planted, or cared for. Such ground will not produce much fruitfulness.

As a child growing up on a farm; I remember the arduous task of clearing acres of land in order to be able to plant crops to reap a harvest of fruit. It was back-breaking work – cutting thorn apple, poplar, briars, and removing rocks. Stumps had to be removed. Only after the acreage was cleared of these things could the soil be plowed. Clumps of sod would need to be broken up and removed. More rock collecting and piling would be needed. Disking, dragging, and a continual working of the soil was needed and still it was not yet ready to be planted.

After years of inactivity, improvements were needed to help the crop to grow. Lime, nitrogen, potassium, and yes, fertilizer would be added and the work didn’t stop there. After planting, care was still needed to ensure a fruitful harvest. Continual cultivation was necessary.

My family stopped farming some years ago. Left unattended and uncultivated, it has not taken long for weeds, briars, and thorn apples to reclaim what was once theirs.

You know, over the years I have come to realize our hearts and lives are very much like the soil I used to work growing up. There have been periods in my life when I have grown cold, hard, critical, unloving, uncaring, and unforgiving. Not much fruit seems evident in my life at these times – only weeds. At such times I know I have stopped or neglected to care for the soil of my heart.

In Jeremiah 4:3 and Hosea 10:12, the prophets exhort us to break up the fallow ground of our hearts and lives. Let me be so bold as to ask you a question or two. Do you feel alone? Do you find it hard to love or care for others? Would you say that you are just not a happy person? Might I encourage you to break up the fallow ground of you heart. How, you ask? Hosea says it’s time to seek the Lord. Cry out to Jesus. Meditate on His Word. Cultivate an attitude of gratefulness, thanksgiving, and praise in your heart. Choose to sing. Laugh again. Don’t be afraid to do good. Enjoy life and the weeds, briars, and thorn apples will be cleared from the soil of your heart and life and once again you will know what it is like to enjoy fruitful living.

Pastor Jeff York