This Sunday is the Harvest Festival (British one)
Throughout the Bible, the harvest carries spiritual significance. It is used in parables (Luke 8:4-8) and as metaphor for spiritual growth and health (2 Corinthians 9:10, James 3:18).
Jesus mentioned a spiritual harvest that is ready to be harvested. "And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of this harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."
The fruit of God's operation in the human heart is a spiritual harvest. The parable of the seed and the sower makes it very obvious that certain people have good soil in their souls; when the Word of God is sown there, the person accepts it and continues to develop (Luke 8:9–15). We are powerless to alter the soil; it is God's responsibility to do so.
Like a field's physical development, human spiritual development is a natural, organic process guided by God. It can be discouraging if we don't see anyone being saved, but we must keep in mind that sowing is just as significant as harvesting. Some of us sow seeds but may never reap the harvest. Because of this, rather than trying to manage the rate of development or the quantity of harvest, our attention should be on pleasing the One who put us into the field.
Question
What is the difference between spiritual harvest and physical harvest?
What are the short parable of the harvest?
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