Each season has its own peculiar issues that must be handled.
Genesis 8:22 – While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
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In today’s Second Miler, we will take a closer look, not only at the primary focus of summer, the second season, but at the contributing elements that must be undertaken to produce the desired harvest. Remember, each season has a primary purpose, but there are many other elements that surround that purpose that must be carried out. Let’s take a closer look at summer.
SUMMER – the Primary Purpose – GROWTH. In the spring, the seed is sown. In the summer, the plant it produces grows and matures, preparing to be harvested. As already stated, the primary purpose in the summer is growth/maturity. But once the work of spring is finished, you cannot simply abandon the field. There is still much work to do, and it is often hot, and can be very tiring work. One of the reasons it can be so tiring is that you are seeing no mature fruit. In the summer, the seeds have germinated and generally beginning to grow into mature plants. Where there was only dirt and an indication that seeds had been planted, now there are plants that can generally be identified for the fruit they will produce. It is also during the summer that blossoms that indicate the first elements of fruitfulness are seen, and following that, young fruit not yet ready for harvest. And while all that is viewed with joy, there is heat that must be quenched by watering. There are weeds that will grow and choke the plants. These must be removed, either by hand or with some tool designed for the work. And let us not forget a plethora of animals like birds, rodents, deer, and insects that will attempt to devour the young and tender plants, or the early fruit they produce. These, too, must be dealt with by some means; netting, traps, or some deterrent. All this work must be continually maintained in order for summer to produce its primary purpose, growth/maturity.
In the spiritual realm the same elements must be considered. Take a few moments and read Mark 4:1-20. As the seed you have planted springs forth, you must give attention to watering that seed so it can draw the nutrients it needs to grow and ultimately produce abundant fruitfulness. Persecutions and afflictions come to create dry and hot conditions that cause potentially fruitful plants to whither in the heat. The Word is the water you need. Then there are the elements that come to choke, devour, and make your planting unfruitful. They are the deceitfulness of riches, the cares of this life, and the lusts of other things. They, too, must be stopped in their efforts so you may ultimately reap an abundant harvest. Prayer, spiritual warfare, and the constant application of the Word (Sword of the Spirit) must be your daily work to assure growth/maturity for your harvest. Remember, “Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples” (John 15:8).
Manna for Today – Isaiah 55:10; 2 Corinthians 9:10; Ecclesiastes 3:1-15; Jeremiah 29:11; Isaiah 45:11; Isaiah 55:11; Hebrews 11:1-6; Galatians 5:6; Joshua 1:6-9; Proverbs 4:20-23; Romans 10:6-17