Ahava Love Letter
“Hand To The Plow” "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62 NKJV) |
Dear family of friends,
Back in 1977, Paul Clark, a Christian songwriter and singer, came out with an album (before MP3 downloads and IPhones, in case you weren’t born then) entitled “Hand To The Plow.” The title song of the same name, if my memory serves me right from 24 years ago, was about his grandfather, a farmer in the Midwest. The song was about perseverance.
Persevering, according to the dictionary, means “to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragement.” Perseverance is a timely, and most needed, personal quality to possess. It allows us to get through to the finish line when others may have dropped out of the race, or quit plowing the field, in the meantime.
Growing up in Iowa back in the 60’s and 70’s meant one got to watch the massive green John Deere and big red International Harvester tractors out plowing the fields before and after the harvest. For the farmers, it consisted of long hours sitting on the lone seat, turning row after row of black dirt over, to plant the seed. After the summer growing period, they did it again, to prepare for the next season after it had borne its “fruit.” The reward had come at the end of the enduring time.
When one looks at the hand of the plower on the front of the pictured album cover, it is actually Paul Clark’s grandfather’s hands on the plow. Rugged and strong, they held to that instrument that would enable them to be persistent in the annual work that went into harvest preparation. Whether walking behind the mule or horses, as he did in his time, or sitting behind the front wheels of the tractor now, the farmer had to keep his eye on the end of the row, to make a straight line, one at a time, back and forth. His perseverance was necessary to accomplish the task, to reap the hopeful harvest after many months had passed.
In our walk with the Lord, we know we need to keep “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross…” (Heb. 12:2 NAS). Daily and persistently.
I commend those who have been running the marathon race, who have been plowing in the fields for what seems “forever”, and yet continue to courageously plow ahead for the reward of the harvest which will be realized. I commend the people of Israel, who stand as their small country faces the world opposed to them.
I applaud the parents, the teachers, the men and women safeguarding our liberties, and those daily persevering to the end, knowing that as they keep their hands to the plow their efforts will bring eternal accomplishments. When it is a tough go, they just keep on going.
As you put your hand to the plow today, remember that it is not in vain. That sacrifice and love you pour out today will have its just reward, whether seen now or not, for the Almighty One sees all. He is the rewarder for each of you who continue on the path He leads you on.
As once was a popular saying, “Keep on keeping on”, I hope you do so. Or even now, keep that plow in the dirt, and expect the good results in the years to come. We are walking together in this. Keep your hand to the plow! (Use superglue if you have too…)
Ahava to my family of friends,
Steve Martin
Founder/President
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©2011 Steve Martin Love For His People, Inc. P.O. Box 470035 Charlotte, NC 28247-0035
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Ahava Love Letter #28 Date: July 12, in the year of our Lord 2011
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Thanks for sharing. Blessings on your head from the Lord Jesus, Yeshua HaMashiach.
Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People
Charlotte, NC USA