Billions of advertising dollars are spent each year telling us how to make our lives more perfect and enjoyable. The simple fact is - no one is perfect. We all sin and fall short of God's expectations. Thankfully, God sent His Son to save us from sin and cover us in His righteousness. By faith in Jesus, we are holy and perfect in God's eyes.

Plants in God’s good earth respond to the showers He sends, producing plants for pasture and crops for harvest. In the psalm, David says it is as if “the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.” It is all natural, and so is our producing fruit for God as His Word works through us. That God works through us sinners is all grace; if we but hear the Word and let the Spirit give us understanding, a bountiful harvest will follow. Jesus likens it to seeds producing yields of up to a hundredfold. Our growth in faith is indeed by the grace of God, and to Him belongs all the credit for the bountiful harvest He reaps through us.

The first disciples gave up everything to follow Jesus and take the Gospel to the ends of the earth.  What about us?  The Holy Spirit has brought us to faith and empowered us to live as disciples of Jesus.  Today we are reminded that sacrifice and hospitality are two of the marks of a disciple.

Jesus had compassion on the crowds because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  The ultimate issue for them and for us is sin - an inherited disease from which no one is exempt.  The Good News is that Jesus died and rose again so that forgiveness of sin and eternal life come to all who hear and believe the Gospel call.  Today we rejoice that Jesus is the cure for the sickness of sin!