{"id":39710,"date":"2020-03-30T11:16:06","date_gmt":"2020-03-30T15:16:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/farmer-of-hearts-day30\/"},"modified":"2021-03-02T11:47:58","modified_gmt":"2021-03-02T16:47:58","slug":"farmer-of-hearts-day30","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/en\/farmer-of-hearts-day30\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 30 We Plant and Water, God Gives the Growth"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Start of English – fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” locked=”off”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.3.2″ background_image=”https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/bkgd-farmer-of-hearts-scaled.jpg” width=”100%” max_width=”100%”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.3.2″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/farmer-of-hearts-title.png” show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ width=”50%” max_width=”50%” animation_style=”zoom”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_button button_url=”\/en\/farmer-of-hearts-index\/” button_text=”Index” button_alignment=”center” admin_label=”Button” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”30px” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_bg_color=”#ed374e” button_border_color=”#ed374e” animation_style=”bounce” locked=”off”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_button button_url=”\/en\/farmers-around-the-world\/” button_text=”Farmers around the world” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”30px” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_bg_color=”#ee364e” button_border_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” animation_style=”bounce” locked=”off”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Question” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ custom_padding=”21px||26px|||” locked=”off”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.3.2″ custom_margin=”5px|auto||auto|false|false” custom_padding=”0px|||||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.3.2″][et_pb_post_nav in_same_term=”on” admin_label=”Post Navigation” _builder_version=”4.3.2″][\/et_pb_post_nav][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ header_font=”|700|||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#e02b20″ header_font_size=”35px” header_2_text_align=”center” animation_style=”flip”]<\/p>\n

Day 30 (Mar 31)
– We Plant and Water, God Gives the Growth<\/h1>\n

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Day 30 (Mar 31)
We Plant and Water, God Gives the Growth<\/h1>\n

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Are you able to share the Christian faith with love and humility?
\n<\/h1>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_audio audio=”https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/farmer-of-hearts\/zh\/foh_day30_zh.mp3″ title=”Audio (in Cantonese)” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ background_color=”#73a642″ custom_margin=”10px||10px||false|false” custom_padding=”10px||10px||false|false” locked=”off”][\/et_pb_audio][et_pb_audio audio=”https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/farmer-of-hearts\/cn\/foh_day30_cn.mp3″ title=”Audio (in Mandarin)” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ background_color=”#73a642″ custom_margin=”10px||10px||false|false” custom_padding=”10px||10px||false|false” locked=”off”][\/et_pb_audio][et_pb_audio audio=”https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/farmer-of-hearts\/en\/foh_day30_en.mp3″ title=”English” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ background_color=”#73a642″ custom_margin=”10px||10px||false|false” custom_padding=”10px||10px||false|false” locked=”off”][\/et_pb_audio][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|on” admin_label=”Audio in English (Coming Soon)” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ text_font_size=”20px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”5px||5px||false|false” custom_padding=”10px||10px||false|false” disabled=”on”]Audio in English (Coming Soon)[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.3.2″ background_color=”#ed374e” custom_padding=”39px|||||” locked=”off”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.3.2″ animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.3.2″][et_pb_testimonial author=”- St. Augustine, Sermon on John” quote_icon_color=”#ffffff” use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”40px” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ body_font=”Yesteryear||on||||||” body_text_color=”#ffffff” body_font_size=”35px” author_font=”Arial||||||||” author_font_size=”23px” author_line_height=”1em” use_background_color=”off” text_orientation=”center” link_option_url_new_window=”on”]<\/p>\n

“Pride does its own will; humility does the will of God. “<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_testimonial][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” locked=”off”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ _builder_version=”4.3.2″][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.3.2″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/farm.png” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ animation_style=”bounce” animation_duration=”1250ms”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.3.2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Determination ” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ text_font_size=”24px” header_2_font_size=”24px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false”]<\/p>\n

\u201cFor Christ's love compels us\u2026\u201d (2 Corinthians 5:14, NIV). Feeling compelled by Christ\u2019s love to share his good news is a good indicator of spiritual maturity. It suggests to us that the seed sown by God is growing well in our hearts.<\/h2>\n

But feeling compelled to share the Gospel is one thing, doing it effectively is quite another. In the reflection of Day 29, making ourselves \u201ca living gospel to others\u201d was suggested as an effective way to share the Gospel. Today, let\u2019s turn our attention to two important virtues that we must practise in order to be successful in being \u201ca living gospel to others\u201d: love and humility.<\/h2>\n

Sometimes, we are so fixated on being efficient in using our time and effort that we tend to overlook the needs and feelings of the recipients of our sharing. It's important to remember that the best way to share our faith is not by wearing people down with endless instructions or barking out strict orders like a slave-driver. The Christian message of love needs to be shared with genuine love. St. Augustine says “Once and for all, a short rule is laid down for you: Love, and do what you will. If you keep silent, do it out of love. If you cry out, do it out of love. If you refrain from punishing, do it out of love. Let the root of love be within. From such a root nothing but good can come.\u201d\u00a0 (Sermon on 1 John<\/i>)<\/h2>\n

\u201c[S]top disputing about words. This serves no useful purpose since it harms those who listen\u201d, (2 Timothy 2:14). How often do we find ourselves arguing with people on the rhetoric? In the process, we deviate from our goal of helping them to see the truth. Our emotions and pride get in the way. Suddenly, winning the argument becomes our priority. Once again, St. Augustine comes to our rescue if we are prone to making this mistake: \u201cThe teacher should not serve the words but the words the teacher\u201d (On Christian Doctrine<\/i> 4.28.61). The words are the teacher's tool. They are the means, not the end. Always remember: \u201cGod opposes the proud but bestows favor on the humble\u201d (1 Peter 5:5).<\/h2>\n

One last but perhaps the most important point. We must have the humility to accept that conversion of human hearts is God's work, not ours. St. Paul speaks from personal experience: \u201cI planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth\u201d (1 Corinthians 3:6). We must not claim credit if we succeed in helping people to grow in faith; nor should we despair when we fail. Like St. Paul and Apollos, our job is to keep planting and watering. By God's grace, conversions will follow.<\/h2>\n

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As pointed out by St. Augustine, \u201cPride does its own will; humility does the will of God\u201d. Although we really want people to repent and believe, for whatever reason it doesn't always work out that way. We must accept God's will, <\/br>even when what He wills is not what we want.<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”\u53cd\u601d:” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ custom_padding=”16px||0px|||” locked=”off”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ _builder_version=”4.3.2″][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.3.2″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.3.2″ header_font=”|700|||||||”]<\/p>\n

REFLECTION:<\/h1>\n

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What really motivates me to share my Christian faith? Do I do it out of love for the person I share faith with? Or, do I do it out of a need to please my own ego?<\/h2>\n

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TODAY'S PRAYER<\/h1>\n

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Heavenly Father! You who sought out Adam and Eve after they sinned against You had also sought me out (cf. Genesis 3:9). In the name of Jesus I humbly implore: grant me the love and the humility to share your Gospel effectively and lovingly with those who choose to turn away from You. And do it for Your glory and not mine.<\/h2>\n

As my response to Your reminder of the importance of love and humility in sharing the Gospel, <\/br>I will take a moment to read and reflect on 1 Corinthians 4:6-13, <\/br>taking to heart St. Paul's example of love and humility.<\/h2>\n

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.<\/i><\/h2>\n

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Are you able to share the Christian faith with love and humility?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":37908,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39710","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-farmer-of-hearts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39710","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39710"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39710\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39778,"href":"https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39710\/revisions\/39778"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37908"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39710"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39710"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39710"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}