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Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 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. 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 to those who belong to the family of believers.
Galatians 6:7-10

My mom loves to serve lima beans.  I hate them.  I prefer strawberries.  If it were possible, I’d love to plant those lima beans and grow strawberries out of them.  But the laws of nature don’t cater to our personal desires.  Neither do God’s laws and ways.  If I plant those awful lima beans, I’m going to get even more tasteless lima beans.  Or if I plant seeds of my own desires (my sinful nature), that is exactly what I’m going to reap.

v. 7 – Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
 I’ve been challenged recently to really truly consider what I’m sowing, because that is exactly what I’m going to reap.  God won’t be fooled or mocked.  I’m so stubborn to think otherwise.

v. 8 – 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.
We are always sowing something.  We’re either sowing for ourselves or for God.  This is no middle ground.  Each action and choice contributes to one harvest or another. 

Sowing for the flesh – It’s so easy because we are naturally wired to do it!  We don’t need instruction to do it.  It’s called complacency, comfort, ease, etc.  If we’re in a comfortable routine, we’re probably sowing for ourselves.

Sowing for God – It’s not natural.  It takes instruction, guidance, patience and work!  We’re always talking about our struggles, what we’re learning from God – so why would doing his work be easy?  We’re given divine appointments on a regular basis.  These are opportunities to sow for God.  And we’re promised to face opposition because we’re surround by people sowing for themselves.  Sowing for God goes against our natural inclinations. 

So what are we REALLY sowing?  God has recently shown me a few ways to consider this. 

1.  We grow in the direction of our reverences.  – I’m reading God Will Answer by Ron Susek.  (It’s a devotional on prayer and has totally changed my prayer life!)   Each week I always find a phrase that sticks with me.  What do I truly revere, hold high, desire?  I’m going to move toward those things whether I realize it or not – consciously or unconsciously.  So I’m watching my actions and choices to see what I really do revere, and not just what I think I revere.   What do I TRULY desire?

2.  What you pray to possess will possess you. – This is also from God Will Answer.  What am I praying for?  My own crises, problems, selfish desires?  Or am I really concerned about the kingdom and my friends who don’t know Christ?  Am I crying out to God for their salvation or am I telling him how I think he should solve my problems?  Can we say convicted? 

v. 9 – Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

I grew up on a small farm in PA.  Let me tell you – it’s a little more work than planting a seed and returning a few days later to have corn on the cob for dinner.  It’s a long process of plowing, planting, fertilizing, spraying, and harvesting.  And even if you do all of that and get a great crop, you still have to keep the deer and coons out.  Getting a good harvest takes a lot of work, sweat, and long nights!  

It’s the same with the kingdom’s harvest.  Saying, “Jesus loves you” doesn’t even begin to cut it.  We need to correct, rebuke, and encourage (2 Tim 4:2).  We should be actively working in the fields daily.

Prayer is a huge part of this too, but not enough in itself.  The purpose of prayer is connect us to God’s will set in eternity past.  We need to seek his will and take action.  Let’s not be passive prayers, but passionate about the plan set before us.
 
 

v. 10 – Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
And we’re not alone!  A workhorse can pull X pounds, but if joined with a second, the two can pull much more than 2X pounds.  They’re even stronger together than separate.  God LOVES unity and oneness.  Working together we are a much stronger force than separately.  The harvest will multiply many more times than we can understand.  My prayer is that we the church and we the Oct 09 team will be completely united as one for Christ.  Truly united in purpose and passion. 

Lastly, the purpose of the harvest is to glorify God.  It’s praise and gratitude.  It’s also love for others and for God.  The harvest is not about us and our accomplishments, work, and sacrifices but about God’s amazing redeeming love. 

I pray that we will truly consider what we’re sowing, will trust in God’s perfect will and timing, and will join together in the harvest to glorify God.  I’m trading the bitter tasteless lima beans of my own desires for the sweet ripened harvest of God’s kingdom.