"You are GOD'S field..." 1 Corinthians 3:9.
Paul is using 'field' as a metaphor describing where God is at work. For him it was the Corinthian church.
My father’s fields were scattered in 5 locations. When he
sent me to work, he didn’t send me to any field but to a
specific field. My dad wouldn’t have been thrilled if he would have found
me working the neighbor’s field or on a field he hadn’t sent me to.All believers are on assignment from God. When God sends us to ‘a field’(a person), he is at work in that heart. And he helps us keep focused.
We know that God often starts work in hearts by the witness of nature and humans who reflect God’s heart. A story is told that a missionary arrived in a country in Africa and announced that he came to introduce God to them. The people said “He was here before you came. We know about God.”
Haroon from China was a student at University and was curious about the Bible. So he joined a student group where he studied the Bible. He was interested in learning about Jewish history. Our friend at the International Centre realized he needed more explanation so she introduced him to us. One of his earlier statements was “the Bible and the Qur’an say the same thing.” So, we showed him that in key areas, they say the opposite and they can’t both be right. He understood that Jesus was calling him to follow him. But it wasn’t until he got back to China that he gave his life to Jesus. Our friend had Bible studies with Haroon and his father. In this situation we were all working together. It wasn’t ‘my field’…’my contact’ but ‘God’s field’. There were at least 3 parties involved in him following Jesus. But God caused the message of the Gospel to take hold of him. Likewise Paul and Apollos worked together. Neither got the credit. God did.
Every farmer knows that other than the seed and rain, the potential in a field is in the topsoil—8-10” of ordinary looking earth. The Corinthians were a 'field' with great potential for growth but it was a weedy field. Sadly, they looked just like society around them. Paul did not despair. He continued giving them ‘milk’—basic discipleship principles to get them grounded spiritually.
It takes resilience to keep going in outreach to Muslims. Sometimes it takes years of praying, befriending, reaching out and sharing.
“When New Zealand runner Nikki Hamblin fell in the women's 5,000-meter run Tuesday morning(Aug. 16/16) American runner Abbey D'Agostino tripped over her and fell to the ground as
well. Hamblin lay on the ground until she felt D'Agostino's hand on her
shoulder. "Get up, get up! We have to finish!" Agostino said to her. "This is the Olympic Games. We have
to finish this."The two finished last and next to last, but both will advance to Friday's final because they were tripped. Hamblin told reporters, "I am so grateful to Abbey for helping me. That girl was the Olympic spirit right there..." Christians need more of the "Olympic spirit" these days.” (Today's Cultural Commentary)
Dear Lord, Thank-you for sending me to a 'Muslim field'. I anticipate how you will work in his heart. Amen.
