Scripture:
Galatians 6:7-10 NKJV
[7] Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. [8] For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. [9] And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. [10] Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Observation:
The Book of Galatians was written by Paul to non-Jewish believers in Galatia. The purpose of it was to reinforce the gospel of Christ and help them understand that the law had been fulfilled through Christ and HIS sacrifice on the cross. That didn’t mean, however, that they should do no good work. Paul’s dearie was to teach them that things like the sacrificial system and Circumcision didn’t apply to any non-Jewish believers. The first few words in today’s selected verses are repeated throughout the New Testament, which do not be deceived. It’s said over and over again. So it must be important. The following words I believe are equally as important,” GOD will not be mocked, what so ever a man sows that he will also reap.” If you sow to the flesh, you will reap corruption. But if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life through Christ Jesus. Paul encourages the believers in Galatia to continue to do good works, continue to pour into others, and continue to worship GOD through their lifestyle. Don’t stop, stay in there. Because the reward is coming. Especially those of the household of faith. Paul wants the believers in Galatia to just stay faithful to what they believe they were called to do. He probably knew from his own experience that it’s easy to get discouraged and lose heart. When they didn’t see the fruit from the seeds they were planting. He wanted them to know that it didn’t mean they should stop planting seeds.
Application:
When I read this, I thought about a fruit tree. If you start one from a seed, it may take years to even realize what kind of tree was planted. That doesn’t mean you have to cut it down after the first year. No, you keep watering it, giving it the nutrients it needs fertilizing it so it will grow. The growth may be slow at first, but if you stay in there, the tree will at some point produce fruit. I say all this this morning because of the calling I know GOD has placed on my life. It’s easy to get discouraged when you see someone heading back down a road you thought they were done with. In your heart, you want to give up. You might say to yourself,” Well, I tried,” or you might even say…”The bible says don’t cast your pearls before swine,” and you would be right. It’s easy to want to give up and move on. But I wonder how life would be if GOD gave up on you. I say this because I have a young man whom I know GOD brought into my life. I consider him to be a sin in the faith. I have done my best to tuck him under my wing and pour into him. But recently, he has made some choices that could very well get him in some trouble. It’s easy for me to want to throw my hands up and want to walk away, but I just can’t, I see something in this young man he does not see in himself. His selfless heart and desire to love and be loved are no different than anyone else. We all have it, and honestly, it’s not easy to see we already have the love and ability to love that we are looking for. All too often, we look for it in humans but will never find the kind of love we desire there. We can not sow to our flesh. If we do, we will reap corruption. We honestly don’t understand that Jesus is all we need until Jesus is all we have. When we sow to our relationship with HIM. HE will leave, us feeling fulfilled. But as we sow to our flesh, we will always be left feeling empty. It takes time to see fruit. If you go to the local tree nursery and buy a fruit tree, it has already started. You take it home and plant it around your house. It could take more than 3 years before you see fruit from it. Don’t cut it down. Just keep on feeding it. GOD never gave up on you, and at just the right time, HE has seen a harvest, and you will, too. Sow to the spirit. Pray for those you are working with. Love them when they don’t know how to love themselves. 1st Corinthians chapter 13 is a picture of how GOD loved us and how we should love others. “Love is patient and kind: Love is not envious, boastful, or arrogant
Love is not self-seeking: Love does not dishonor others, demand its own way, or keep score of wrongs
Love is not easily angered: Love is not irritable or resentful
Love rejoices in the truth: Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices when the truth wins out
Love never gives up: Love always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres.” I say this because I want to encourage not just you but myself as well. I’m not going to give up on this young man. Even when I want to throw my hands up and say he is just not getting it. Seeds have been planted they just need to be watered. Knowing the love of Jesus can sometimes only be realized when it’s all we are left with.
Prayer:
Father, I know you have a perfect plan. You know just what it takes to get our attention, and you know our hearts. I just want to lift up the men you have carefully placed in my path. You know my heart for them, and you know the path you have chosen for each of them. I know from my personal experience that your love is relentless. You chased me right into the trap house and drew me out. Father, I pray that you would touch the hearts of each of them. That you would open their spiritual eyes so that they may see you have called them into a relationship with you that is more fulfilling than anything they could get from a human or any other kind of fleshly desire. I pray that you would sow into their spirit this morning the desire to follow you with all their hearts. Not with some kind of half-hearted attempt. I pray that you would fertilize their fruit tree so that little blossoms could be seen, and at some point, a harvest could be received. I know your word tells us that what we sow, we will also reap. So I pray that we start sowing into our spirit rather than the desires of our flesh, which only leads to corruption. Change our hearts so that we would chase after what you want for us and not what we want for us. Our desires lead to death, and yours lead to life helping us to choose your path. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.