And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9).

I never grow weary of eating homegrown tomatoes. The planting, watering, weeding, and waiting all wearied me, but the eating never does. I know that I cannot have one without the other. To reap tomatoes in late summer, I had to plant, water, weeds and wait through the prior months. In Galatians, Paul is telling us life is the same. Goodness is reaped in due season. Goodness grows in the soil of consistency (not giving up). Goodness is worth the wait. The world waited for through millennia for Jesus Christ. He was worth the wait. Goodness always is.

What good will you sow today? What good sown years ago will you harvest today?

The Day of Rest

Today is Sunday and the blogger resteth. Go to worship! See you tomorrow!

Daily Devotions: many choices have predictable consequences

For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:8, ESV)

Arguably the greatest theological mystery is summed up in the great question: why God? Why is there evil? Why did God permit sin? What did God create beings capable of sin? Why do bad things happen to good people? All of these "why's" are facets of the great WHY GOD?

Not everything is a mystery. Today's reading points out a non-mystery: many choices have predictable consequences. In agriculture, You reap what you sow. Plant a radish, get a radish. Plant weeds, get weeds. In life, if you spend more than you earn, you will go broke. If you cheat on your taxes, you will end up in jail. If you constantly show up late for work, you will get fired. If you don't study, you'll get low grades. If you hang around with the wrong crowd, you will end up in trouble. As we say, this is not rocket science.

Some evils are a mystery, but many are not. If you are sowing weeds, don't be surprised if your garden is unpleasant...and don't blame God. Instead, sow some good seed. Live within your means or work hard for better means! Be faithful. Be on time. Study hard. Choose good friends! Above all, believe in God. Faith is the best seed of all!

Today, sow some good seed! Make some good choices!

Daily Devotion: The First Rule of Prayer

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. (Galatians 6:7, ESV)

Martin Luther's first rule of prayer was "Don't lie to God" (attributed to Luther. Apologies, I have not been able to find the precise citation).  Since God knows everything, lying to Him sounds at face value ridiculous, but nonetheless we do it all the time. The most obvious lies we tell God are about our own sins and their consequences. We act falsely (we sow weeds) and then we shocked when it turns about badly (we reap problems).

Today, first: remember God's grace! He hears even the prayers you forget to speak and puts the best construction on the ones we do. Second: make every effort to "tell it like it is" when you speak to God, remembering Luther's first rule of prayer.

Daily Devotion: teachers

Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. (Galatians 6:6, ESV)

What do you value? Often I will not go to the movies because the movie in question is not worth $12 to me. I might rent the same movie from Redbox for $1.50. For example, I saw Pirates of the Caribbean One in the theater. I rented Pirates Four. That is a measure of the value I place on those two movies.

The spiritual question is what value to you place upon those who teach you the Word of God? Value is (of course) more than money. Money is one measure of value. Honor, respect, and gratitude are others. Think about those who teach you God's word (I have such teachers just as you do). Have we valued them as we ought?

Today, share some good thing with those who teach you the word. You could pray for them, call them/email/write them to thank them, and (yes) send them an offering or gift as a tangible expression of your love.

Daily Devotion: indepedence and interdependence

Paul writes both "Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" and, a mere three verses later "For each will have to bear his own load" (Galatians 6:2 and 6:5, ESV). Which is it? Are we to "bear one another’s burdens" or each bear his/her own? And the answer is...yes.

The Bible teaches both independence and interdependence. Regarding independence, Paul writes,

"But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one" (1 Thessalonians 4:10b–12, ESV).  Regarding interdependence, the Bible repeatedly speaks of Christians collectively as a body, meaning a organism built of interdependent organs with Christ as the head. Both are true.

In which areas of life do you need more independence? In which areas should you seek to be more interdependent? Ask God for answers to these questions in prayer today.

Someone made a mistake...

Brothers [and Sisters], if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. (Galatians 6:1, ESV)

Everyone makes mistakes: people with spiritual beliefs and people without spiritual beliefs. Everyone makes mistakes. Paul makes two important points about this truth. First, people with a rich spiritual life should take the initiative. "You who are spiritual should...." The burden to help is yours. As Christ helped you with your mistakes, you should help others.

Second, our approach should be gentleness. Our approach should demonstrate kindness, modesty, humility, and mildness. Our approach should never be described as rough, hard, violent, angry, aggressive, or contentious.

Today, seek God's spirit of gentleness in your dealings with others.