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. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3:6-9
Much of what God does is done under cover of darkness. Like a seed carefully planted beneath the soil, we do not see it sprout up, but we can be sure the seed of God’s Word will sprout up at the appointed time.
My husband is a quiet man and rarely shares his feelings. Recently a man he used to work with called him. This man poured his heart out to my husband about his troubles. His situation is dire. My husband began to tell me about it, and he told me how he did his best to “witness” to this man, telling him how he needed to cry out to God and ask God to help him.
My jaw dropped open as I had not heard him speak like this in many, many years. He told his friend how he was in Teen Challenge trying to get off heroin many years ago and how he cried out to God to change his life. He was told by a counselor to make a list of things he wanted God to do in his life, to give him a godly wife, family, a home, and a trade that would enable him to support his family and a golden retriever dog. He went on to say to this man how God answered every single one of those prayers. He just needs to cry out to God to show him what to do.
I could hardly believe my ears as my husband was telling me how he did his best to witness for the Lord. I often thought he was disinterested in the things of God because he doesn’t share his feelings a lot or act the way I think he should. Thank you, Jesus, You do not look at the outward appearance as we do, but You look at the heart.
I am convinced God used this situation to bring to mind an experience he had with God half a century ago. When you least expect it, God stirs up memories and causes the heart to ponder all He has done. I stand on 2 Corinthians 4:13 (NKJV) – “I believed, and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak. Romans 10:10 (NKJV) – For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. No, it was not a three-point sermon but a powerful, brief message from a man with an experience who had been touched and changed by the power of God.
Thank You, Jesus, for this beautiful demonstration of Your inner workings in man’s heart. Those who are standing for marriage restoration, don’t be discouraged by what you don’t see, but know God is working in areas you cannot see and could not imagine.
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
Becky in California
Amen!
🙏