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Devotional for the week –20 July 2009 Sermon Title: Sowing and Reaping There was a story of a young boy promoting the sale of lottery tickets. He went around saying that that if you saved a dollar it would not make you richer. If you lost a dollar it would not make you poorer but if you bought a ticket it may bring you riches. This is how the world attracts the people to attain quick short-term riches. Similarly advertisements may sound attractive but is not. The apostle Paul warned his people not to be deceived into such thinking. We sow what we reap. Galatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived. God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” If we do not show kindness and graciousness we will reap negatively. We must learn to sow in what pleases God. We should have a daily walk with the Lord and choose to follow the promptings of the Spirit. Principle in Spiritual Life If our body feeds only on junk food for three meals each day, the doctor will naturally advise us to stop the junk food and advise us to go on a healthy diet. We can see our health condition without the doctor pointing this out to us. It goes likewise for our spiritual life in terms of our actions, thoughts, and values. In Galatians, Apostle Paul used the agriculture and farming norm to illustrate sowing and reaping. We make many choices daily. The attraction and distraction of the flesh is real. We must know how to feed the Spirit and not the flesh. The lust of the eye, flesh and pride has been cultivated in us with the fall of Adam. We need desperately to change from this old nature. This was done at the cross for us. Those who belong to Christ have been crucified with Christ and Christ lives in them Galatians 2:20. We must sow to please the Spirit in our attitude, our modeling, and our culture that pleases the Spirit in order to deal with the flesh.. Galatians 5:25 “The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature, will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:8. Let us examine ourselves at how we spend our time, finances and talents to know where we have been sowing. Principle in Social Life. In our social lives, we are to sow in people’s lives at all times. We are taught to do gracious acts like giving our time and finances, our talents and our presence. In Galatians 6:9-10, it says “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers.” We have the opportunities out there but we know it is a jungle out there too. We are to continue in meeting people’s needs but it is not possible to meet all their needs. Sowing into people’s lives pleases God. What is important then is to do what is right according to God’s standard. We need to know the difference in doing right in the light of the law of God and not the law of the land. Conclusion. We know that for some, it may be a struggle in sowing in the Spirit. Some people have tried hard but have lost faith, and would wish to give up. Apostle Paul’s encouraging words for us is not to be weary in doing so. At the proper time, we will reap a harvest in our sowing. The reason why we get weary, is we are not getting results despite our obedience sowing in the Spirit. Apostle Paul teaches us to glorify the cross of Christ despite being weary in sowing, remembering what Jesus Christ had gone through for us. He bore our sins for our sake in obedience to the Father, for our Salvation and for the Kingdom. Let us continue sowing in the Spirit by being in Care Groups, and having a close walk with God. By studying His word, and giving our time, finances and talents to people’s lives. Do not become weary but faithfully continue sowing in the Spirit, glorifying God in our journey of faith in the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Prayer Response Lord, teach us to sow seeds in the things that last. We sow in building our spiritual life and not in the flesh of sin. We sow for the eternal life of souls and for the extension of the Kingdom of God to all. We glory in the cross of Christ in our change from eternal death to eternal life. Amen Devotional based on the sermon by Rev Lim Jen Huat
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