At Work Beyond Us

Many years ago, we had two foster daughters come live with our family. They were sisters ages four and six. They came from a really rough neighborhood – a really rough family situation. But I remember one day driving down the road – coming home from school. Lili, the youngest starts to sing this song we’d sung in church… “Open the eyes to my heart Lord. Open the eyes to my heart. I want to see you.” I can still see her sitting in the backseat – in my rearview mirror. She had this huge smile on her face and singing in full voice. And I found myself praying with her… Please Lord, if anybody needs to see you… if anybody needs to know you… She does…

Not long after that, the sisters went back to live with their mom. And, I’ve lost touch with them over the years. But I am just so thankful for my church family that helped plant that seed of faith. God knows she’s going to need it. 

Yesterday we reflected on the promise from Isaiah where God promises: My word will not return empty (Isaiah 55:10-13). 

And I do believe it. Not always when I’d like, or even how I’d like. But I can tell you there have been plenty of times people have said after a Sunday message, Pastor your message really touched me… it felt like you were speaking right to me. But, when they tell me what I said, I didn’t say it. It wasn’t part of my message. Surely the Holy Spirit is at work beyond us… 

And we can apply that to ministry in general. I think about Vacation Bible School or many of the other ministries our church participates in. We don’t often get to see the results of our work. We can’t possibly know the bigger picture.

But God promises, my word will not return empty.

The same is true with the mainline churches that are growing older… We lament: there are fewer and fewer children coming. But again, I do fully trust that the Spirit is at work beyond us, that the seeds of faith that we planted, will make a difference. And however the church looks in the future, there will always be people who are longing for nourishment, longing for salvation, longing to come home to God. 

My prayer for you today, is as it was yesterday: that you would come to see that whenever you share God’s word with others, however you might do it, a seed is planted… and you’ve done your part… For it is God who brings the rain. It is God who knows the seasons of the heart… And it is God who brings the seed to harvest.

Let us pray: Gracious God, as we receive your word, so may we be nourished. As we are nourished, may we in turn nourish others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.