Whatever a Man Sows, This He Will Also Reap

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Whatever a Man Sows, This He Will Also Reap

Planting gardens  is a wonderful experience.      Where you plant corn,  you get corn.      Where you plant marigolds,  you get marigolds.      So,  we plan our garden.      The veggies are in one area,  the flowers in another  —  and things like wheat,  barley,  and oats  get planted in large fields.      As we plant,  we know what we’ll get.      Planting corn will not produce carrots.      Each seed has been designed  to produce its own kind.      Wise gardeners and farmers  do not plant noxious weeds,  because they will ruin  all their good crops  and be good for nothing.

The same is true  in our daily lives.      If our daily living  plants jealousy,  hatred,  greed,  immorality,  sorcery,  strife,  lies,  idolatry,  anger,  etc.,  that is exactly what we will reap  in this life  and in eternity.      In eternity,  it’s called hell.

But,  when our daily lives  plant kindness,  love,  joy,  peace,  patience,  goodness,  faithfulness,  gentleness,  and self-control,  those are the things  we will reap  in this life  and in eternity.

We know  what we will reap  from each kind of seed  we plant,  so we wisely plant  what is good for us  and those around us.      Paul describes life’s situation  in Galatians 6:7-8,

Do not be deceived,  God is not mocked;  for whatever a man sows,  this he will also reap.

For the one who sows  to his own flesh  shall from the flesh  reap corruption,  but the one who sows  to the Spirit  shall from the Spirit  reap eternal life.

We certainly do see many in this world  sowing all sorts of seeds  “to his own flesh“,  and we are always seeing them  “reap corruption“.      It’s not a pretty picture.      In spite of all sorts of ugly results,  people still tend to think  they can fool  God  and get away with sowing  some “wild oats”.      But,  “God is not mocked“,  and they always end up  with sad results.

Sometimes,  when we are trying to plant good seeds,  we don’t think we’re seeing any good results  —  and can feel rather discouraged.      All seeds have their own life-cycle patterns,  so some take  much longer to grow.      Paul knew that,  so in Galatians 6:9-10, he adds,

And let us not lose heart  in doing good,  for in due time  we shall reap  if we do not grow weary.

So then,  while we have opportunity,  let us do good  to all men,  and especially to those  who are of the household  of the faith.

And,  as in all of our work,  we need to leave the results  up to God.      In 1 Corinthians 3:6-7,  Paul wrote  concerning the good things planted in his ministry,

I planted,  Apollos watered,  but God was causing the growth.      So then  neither the one who plants  nor the one who waters  is anything,  but God  who causes the growth.

Whatever kinds of good seeds we plant  during our lives,  the glory of the growth  belongs to God alone.      He alone  can cause  all things  to work for our good.      So,  we look to Him  for the blessings of growth,  as we plant  only what is good  in God’s sight.

Resting in God’s plan  for growth,  we say,  “Hallelujah!      Lord,  You do all things well.      Thank You  for Your many blessings  and the wisdom  in all of Your creation.”

Love,
Margaret

 

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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