Because you never know...

I love the book of Isaiah. 

Really love it. 

It's full of imagery that is devastatingly beautiful, but also harsh and violent. God's endless passion for His people is poured forth as time and time again He calls them to remember His promises fulfilled and give them hope for the future. 

And it's full of little poetic lines such as this one: 

"Blessed are you who sow beside all waters..." 

It's simple language, but quite a profound thought. Taken in light of the New Testament's use of the sowing analogy given in Jesus' Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13), this simple thought has huge implications. 

When Jesus taught about sowing, He was talking about not just the Gospel message, but Kingdom truth in general.  The words you speak, the actions you take, the life you live- these are seeds sown into the people who surround you.
People hear more than you think they do.
People see more than you think they do.
People notice more than you think they do.

{Sow beside all waters.}

You can never be too careful about what you say for your words may be the difference between life and death to those who hear them.
You can never be too careful in how you act for your actions may effect someone else for the the rest of their life.
You can never be too careful of how you live for your life may be the only Kingdom representation  that a person ever sees.

{Sow beside all waters.} 

It doesn't matter if it looks like they're not listening... speak the truth.
It doesn't matter if it looks like they're not watching... act with mercy and truth.
It doesn't matter if it looks like no one will care what you do... live in purity and truth.

Sow in faith, knowing that God will never allow His word to return empty. Sow in tears, for where there is true live for people, there will also be hurt. Sow in joy, for the promise remains that he who sows in tears will come rejoicing at the harvest, bringing in sheaves with him.

{Sow beside all waters.}