November 17, 2019

  They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.  He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him (Ps. 126:5, 6).
 
    Some seed needs to be watered with tears, so weeping times are good sowing times.  Through our tears we may not see the harvest, but it will come, and we shall reap in joy if we faint not.
 
    If we carry forth precious seed for sowing, there is no doubt that we shall return, bringing in our sheaves.  Each of us is a sower going forth to sow.  Some of our sowing is of good seed; some evil.  Which shall it be today?  It is the "precious seed," the good seed, that brings forth fruit for the kingdom of God and enables us to reap with joy and come with rejoicing, bearing our sheaves.
 
    Many a minister has been forced, for the profit of the flock, to sow the precious seed with tears.  "Six weeks of painful, dangerous sickness did more for me than six months in a theological seminary," said a very successful minister.
 
    The model minister of Christ in Rome wrote to his son Timothy: "Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 2:10).
 
                                He that goeth forth with weeping,
                                        Bearing precious seed in love,
                                Never tiring, never sleeping,
                                        Findeth mercy from above.
 
                                Sow thy seed, be never weary,
                                        Let no fears thy soul annoy;
                                Be the prospect ne'er so dreary,
                                        Thou shalt reap the fruits of joy.
                                                                            __Thomas Hastings
 
 
MEDITATION PRAYER:  "That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works" (Ps. 26:7).