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Written by Kim Solis, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Oregon

Matthew 9:37–38 says:

The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. (NIV)

Whenever I think about this passage, I picture men and women working in a field, gathering the harvest from what has already been planted. It is hard work, the kind of work most people would rather avoid. It requires time, effort, and energy, resulting in aching backs, rough hands, dirty knees, and often blood, sweat, and tears.

Many sermons, lessons, and exhortations focus on asking Christians whether we are working in the field, participating in the harvest by talking to people about God and explaining His plan of salvation.

The Spanish TLA (Traducción en Lenguaje Actual, or Translation in Contemporary Language) says:

Jesus said to his disciples, “There are many people who need to enter the kingdom of God, but there are very few disciples to tell them the good news.
So ask God to send more disciples to share the good news with all those people.”

Working in the field, harvesting = proclaiming and sharing the good news with people.

Many times, we think the right way to “evangelize”—to share the good news—is primarily through evangelistic campaigns, knocking on doors, or handing out flyers in the street. And often the approach begins by pointing out people’s sins or errors: telling them they are lost, that only Jesus can save them, that they need to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins, and rise with Him to a new life.

I agree with that message. What I question is whether pointing out what is wrong and correcting people should be the starting point.

The good news is, after all, GOOD.

It announces that the lame can now walk, the deaf can hear, and the captives have been set free. In the gospels, Jesus’ strongest rebukes were directed toward those who already knew the Scriptures and claimed to know God. But when He approached the hurting, the marginalized, and those who were far from God, He often began by meeting their physical needs and, perhaps even more importantly, their emotional ones. He offered compassion, acceptance, dignity, and friendship. And from within that relationship, He taught them a new way to live.

First Peter 3:15–16 says that we should always be prepared to give a defense for the hope that is within us.

That means there must first be a hope within us that others can see.

People notice our peace, our hope, the way we love, and the way we live. And that difference should naturally lead them to ask why something is different about us.

But being a worker in the field also involves much more than speaking words of explanation or instruction.

No harvest would ever happen if someone had not first planted, watered, and cultivated with intention, attention, patience, care, and love.

Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 3:6–7 come to mind:

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.
So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. (NIV)

When we show people mercy, when we are generous with our affection, our resources, and our time, when we help, encourage, and walk alongside others, we are planting, watering, and cultivating, even before we ever open the pages of a Bible.

First John 4:11–12 says:

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

People cannot see God. But when they see the love we show one another and the love we extend to those around us, they can catch a glimpse of Him. God becomes present among us, and His love is made visible in a way others can experience.

That, too, is sharing the gospel.
That, too, is proclaiming the good news.
That, too, is taking part in the work of the field and the harvest.

So, what are you doing today to participate in the work of the field?
Are you planting?
Are you watering?
Are you cultivating with love, generosity, and mercy?

Or perhaps today is a day for harvesting—being ready to explain the hope within you and to tell someone that the same hope is available to them.

We do not all do the same part of the work at the same time.

Some plant. Others water. Others harvest. But God is the One who gives the growth.

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Written by Kat Bittner, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Colorado

Growth is a natural expectation of life. Whether we are talking about a plant, a tree, the physical body, or a spiritual walk, healthy growth requires consistent nourishment. One of the most essential elements for growth is water. Without it, even the strongest seed or healthiest vine will struggle to survive. The same principle applies to our relationship with God.

In Ezekiel 19:10, the prophet proclaims, "Your mother was like a vine planted by the water's edge. It had lush, green foliage because of the abundant water." (NLT)

This beautiful image reminds us that fruitfulness is connected to a reliable water source. The vine did not become fruitful on its own. It flourished because it was planted where it could continually receive the water needed to sustain life and growth.

Anyone who has cared for a garden understands the importance of water. Even if planted in good soil, without water, a garden cannot develop roots, produce leaves, or bear fruit. Water feeds the life within a plant and enables it to become what it was created to be.

The same is true for us as Christians. We want a stronger faith, greater wisdom, better relationships, and a deeper purpose in life. We want to become what we were created to be. Yet growth does not happen simply because we want it. We need to be fed and nurtured continually. Like the vine in Ezekiel, we must remain connected to a source that continually nourishes us. God never intended for us to survive on occasional inspiration. He calls us into a daily relationship where His presence refreshes, strengthens, and transforms us over time.

When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well, He shifted the conversation from physical water to a much deeper need. In John 4:13-14, Jesus said, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

Spiritual growth is not an overnight transformation. Rather, it is a lifelong journey of being nourished by Christ, our Living Water, on a regular basis. Just as a vine planted by abundant waters grows strong, fruitful, and resilient, we too become spiritually healthy when we remain connected to Jesus. Through regular study of God's Word, prayer, worship, and the guidance of trusted spiritual mentors, God gradually shapes our character, deepens our faith, and equips us for His purposes.

When we intentionally seek Christ each day, we can trust that He will provide the nourishment we need for every season. There will be seasons of rapid growth and seasons where growth seems stagnant. The key is to stay planted near the source of water. When we remain rooted in Jesus and open to His teaching, growth becomes the natural result of a life continually refreshed by the Living Water. And He is the source of water that never runs dry.

This message of spiritual growth can be beautifully summarized by Psalm 1:2-3: "But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”

The woman at the well delighted in what Jesus told her and asked to be given this water so that she’d “never be thirsty again” (John 4:15). Never thirst again. Like the plant which remains embedded in the water, we will never be thirsty if we are continually fixed on Jesus. We will flourish in the source of living water, Jesus.

What will you do to be nourished by the Living Water? How can you have lasting growth?