Receive the fruit gratefully and keep serving faithfully without taking the credit

Act as if the work began with you, since you are the one finishing it

Enjoy the benefits but leave the people who prepared the way unmentioned

Delay joining in until you can say you did the hardest part yourself

If you would like to receive Jesus, pray this with me: Lord Jesus, I need you. I confess that I have sinned and tried to live by my own strength. I turn from my sin and trust that you died for me and rose again. I believe you are Lord, and I receive your gift of salvation. Send my life where you want it to go, and make me yours. Amen.

Receive the Lord of the Harvest

Lord, revive your Church to hear your call, to labor faithfully where you send us, and to rejoice in the work already begun by others. Free us from pride, laziness, and competition, and make us humble workers in your field, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Send Your Church into the Harvest

Bring these thanks to God: the teachers, parents, missionaries, pastors, friends, and hidden servants whose work helped you; the grace of entering into fruit you did not produce; the gift of being part of a much larger work.

Thank You for the Labor Before Us

Pray by naming one blessing you received from someone else's labor, thank God for it, and ask for a humble heart that serves faithfully without needing the credit.

Pray with Humility over Shared Work

Father, bless the people whose labor came before mine. Refresh weary hands, honor hidden faithfulness, and let them see the fruit of their work. Help me to enter their labor with gratitude and care, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Strength for Those Who Labored First

Bring to God any pride that acts as if the work started with you, any resentment toward those who prepared the way, and any reluctance to receive what others have done. Ask for a thankful and teachable spirit.

Laying Down the Claim to Credit

ἐγὼ{e-GO###eh-GOH###I} ἀπέστειλα{a-PE-stee-la###ah-PEH-stee-lah###(I) sent} ὑμᾶς{ee-MAS###ee-MAHS###you} θερίζειν{the-REE-zeen###theh-REE-zeen###to reap} ὃ{ho###hoh###that which} οὐχ{ookh###oo-kh###not} ὑμεῖς{ee-MEES###ee-MEES###you} κεκοπιάκατε{ke-ko-pee-A-ka-te###keh-koh-pee-AH-kah-teh###(you) have labored} ἄλλοι{AL-lee###AHL-lee###others} κεκοπιάκασιν{ke-ko-pee-A-ka-seen###keh-koh-pee-AH-kah-seen###(they) have labored} καὶ{KE###KEH###and} ὑμεῖς{ee-MEES###ee-MEES###you} εἰς{ees###ees###into} τὸν{ton###tohn###(the)} κόπον{KO-pon###KOH-pohn###labor of} αὐτῶν{af-TON###ahf-TOHN###them} εἰσεληλύθατε{ee-se-lee-LY-tha-te###ee-seh-lee-LY-thah-teh###(you) have entered}

John 4:38 — DynamicTAB

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