The Fruit of Our Labor

It was a sad volunteer stint on the sidewalks of the abortion center yesterday. I mean, of course it is always sad to some degree, but there are usually little beacons of hope. Usually, at least one woman chooses life rather than abortion for her baby, and snatches back what Satan had almost claimed.

But this Monday, few people even interacted with us. A couple gave us the finger, but most ignored us. Our time on the sidewalk was drawing to an end, and I was helping to clean the RV with the  mobile ultrasound unit we offer for free to the mamas. One of the counselors dashed in to the RV, and asked me to please hand him a blessing bag (filled with baby gifts) which we store on the RV for women who choose life. A couple had just told him they'd changed their minds about aborting, and were going in the center to get back their money. They would be right out. I hurried out with my friend, blessing bag in hand. If they chose life, I would then hopefully be counseling them.

Several minutes passed, and they emerged, but stood on the front porch, apparently in deep discussion. The man looked mournful, the woman determined. I pleaded with them to come talk with me. The man seemed to be urging her to do so, but she ignored me. Then she went back inside. The man walked over to me and the other counselor. The rest of our team had gone home by now. The man, "T", was the father, and wanted the baby. However, the woman did not. I asked if he believed in God. Both he and the woman did. While I rifled through my materials for appropriate print-outs of verses for him to bring to his girlfriend, my counselor friend urged "T" to go back in and fight for his child. He told him of a dad who had done that a few weeks ago. That brave young man had kicked in the back door of the abortion clinic, and demanded they let him get his baby safely out of there. He was arrested...but the woman chose life. I gave "T" my name and number, some Bible verses on the sanctity of life, and told him to bring his phone. "Tell her to call me." Be a hero for your child, we prayed.

He went in.
A police car drove down the street. My friend said, "Oh look! Maybe "T" is doing the right thing, and kicking down the door!"
But it was not to be. The policeman waved and drove by without stopping. A half hour passed. It was now edging towards 2:00, a scorching hot day, and we'd had no lunch, and been there for hours. My friend and I said a brief prayer, and finally left, heavy-hearted.

It is never easy when you do all you know to do, and yet see no obvious fruit of your labor. It is easy to grow discouraged, and wonder why you are a failure.  B.B Warfield in his essay on Faith and Life said, "God has not sent us into the world to say the most plausible things we can think of; to touch men with what they already believe. He has sent us to preach unpalatable truths to a world lying in wickedness; apparently absurd truths to men, proud of their intellects; mysterious truths to men who are carnal and cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God. Shall we despair? Certainly, if it is left to us not only to plant and to water but also to give the increase. Certainly not, if we appeal to and depend upon the Spirit of faith."

We have to remember this. We are not called upon to "give the increase," but only to proclaim the Gospel and truth, and then appeal to, and depend upon the spirit of faith. Who knows but that "T" and the young mother decided to leave that terrible place with their baby alive? I may never know, but God does, and He is responsible for the outcome...not me.
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1 Corinthians 3:6 

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.

Isaiah 55:10 

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater