Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 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.
--Galatians 6:7-8 (NKJV)
From the daily Bible reading on June 26, 2013 of Psalm 114; Galatians 6; 2 Kings 15-16.
Paul closes his letter to the churches in Galatia beginning with a plea that they support each other with grace and with love. If someone is caught in a wrongful act, they should be dealt with kindly and with gentleness, because all of us are subject to doing wrong and may ourselves be tempted and caught some day. Paul asks that they help each other, sharing the load of those who are overburdened. Then he admonishes them not to think of themselves too highly because they just might not be all they think they are. And almost as an aside, Paul gives a plug to preachers and church teachers everywhere by saying they deserve to be rewarded materially ("share in all good things") for their efforts.
Up to these last remarks in his epistle, Paul had likely been dictating his message to a scribe or one of his young followers. But now he takes the pen into his own hands to finish. He comments that it is easy to see the difference in handwriting for his letters were large. This may be by design, so that the people would notice that he is now addressing them directly, or it may be a result of poor eyesight, leading some to think this may be Paul's famous "thorn in the side".
Then Paul closes with one last plea for the people in the churches to not pay heed to the Judaizers, especially as regards circumcision of the flesh, understanding that strict adherence to Mosaic Law will not bring salvation of itself, but only by belief in our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul includes one last defense of his apostleship and authority before he blesses them in benediction.
And nestled in the middle are today's focus verses, stating without equivocation that we reap what we sow. An agrarian society would be familiar with planting and harvesting, even one within the Greek and Roman cultural influences, In the previous chapter, Paul went to great lengths describing the fruits of the flesh and of the Spirit, giving long lists of examples for each. Here he sums it up for us. If we plant seeds of the flesh, if we care more about worldly possessions and pleasures, if we allow the popular culture to influence the very fabric of our lives, we will reap a harvest of corruption and face the lake of fire when we are judged. But if we sow to the Spirit, if we put God and Jesus first in our lives, if we obey Jesus and love one another, if we heed the word of God, salvation and eternal life with God and Jesus will be our harvest. The choice should be simple. Let's sow to the Spirit. The fruit will be sweeter. Amen.
O Lord and Master, thank You so much for giving us the inspired and insightful writings of Your Apostle Paul that we might better know how to live our lives. Thank You for Your mercy in forgiving us when we sow to the flesh, but then repent and turn from that path and return to the narrow way Jesus blazed for us. Help us, please Lord, to plant only the seed of the Spirit so that we might reap a harvest of joyful life with You in paradise. In Your wonderful name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Up to these last remarks in his epistle, Paul had likely been dictating his message to a scribe or one of his young followers. But now he takes the pen into his own hands to finish. He comments that it is easy to see the difference in handwriting for his letters were large. This may be by design, so that the people would notice that he is now addressing them directly, or it may be a result of poor eyesight, leading some to think this may be Paul's famous "thorn in the side".
Then Paul closes with one last plea for the people in the churches to not pay heed to the Judaizers, especially as regards circumcision of the flesh, understanding that strict adherence to Mosaic Law will not bring salvation of itself, but only by belief in our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul includes one last defense of his apostleship and authority before he blesses them in benediction.
And nestled in the middle are today's focus verses, stating without equivocation that we reap what we sow. An agrarian society would be familiar with planting and harvesting, even one within the Greek and Roman cultural influences, In the previous chapter, Paul went to great lengths describing the fruits of the flesh and of the Spirit, giving long lists of examples for each. Here he sums it up for us. If we plant seeds of the flesh, if we care more about worldly possessions and pleasures, if we allow the popular culture to influence the very fabric of our lives, we will reap a harvest of corruption and face the lake of fire when we are judged. But if we sow to the Spirit, if we put God and Jesus first in our lives, if we obey Jesus and love one another, if we heed the word of God, salvation and eternal life with God and Jesus will be our harvest. The choice should be simple. Let's sow to the Spirit. The fruit will be sweeter. Amen.
O Lord and Master, thank You so much for giving us the inspired and insightful writings of Your Apostle Paul that we might better know how to live our lives. Thank You for Your mercy in forgiving us when we sow to the flesh, but then repent and turn from that path and return to the narrow way Jesus blazed for us. Help us, please Lord, to plant only the seed of the Spirit so that we might reap a harvest of joyful life with You in paradise. In Your wonderful name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment