GALATIANS 6:6-10

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 2007

WHAT KIND OF A HARVEST WILL YOU HAVE?

6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 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. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:6-10 (NKJV)

As I have done in the past I have chosen to do a series of Devotions by going verse by verse through a Book of the Bible. This time I have chosen the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians. The first Devotion, for Chapter 1, verses 6 - 10, was written earlier and can be found by going to the Devotion Archives. Each following devotion will remain on this page for approximately 6 days before it will be transferred to the Archives. It is my prayer that these devotions will assist you in your Bible Study and in your growth in Faith and in the Love of Jesus.   Here then is the eighteenth in this series of Devotions.

We had almost a half inch of rain, the largest measurement in many weeks. The lawn changed from a glorious green to a barren brown. The farm fields that surround us had shown promise of “corn as high as an elephant’s eye” to quote from OKLAHOMA, only to be seen in many fields struggling to grow to the three foot level. One person said that the cracks in the clay soil in his yard have grown so big, he has lost two cats. (The cracks are big but he really didn’t lose any cats.) It is hard to understand why in some places there is too much rain and in others far too little. We know the rain is there; why don’t we get any?

St. Paul says the same thing to the Galatians and to us. The seeds of faith have been planted in our hearts and minds. For many, this was done as little children sat on a parent’s lap and heard the Bible Stories of Faith read to them, or listened intently as that loving Sunday School Teacher told the old, old story of Jesus and His love. The rain of God’s Word fed those seeds of faith.

Then the rains did not come as regularly. Parents got too busy and decided the kids could read those stories themselves.  Some Sunday School Teachers decided that it was not important enough to spend a lot of time preparing the lesson; it was good enough to glance at the teacher's guide when the kids were gathering for class. The rain of God’s Word that nourished that faith began to dry up. The acts of Christian Love became few and far between and the growth of the Love of God has become stunted like the corn.

But wait.  All is not hopeless. The weather forecast calls for additional rain the next two days. There may still be some hope even though many of the crops will not produce as in normal years.

But wait.  All is not hopeless. Look again at verse 9 and 10. “9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

We may not be able to do anything about the harvest from the fields and gardens except wait to see if it really will rain, BUT we can and must do something about the harvest of souls for the Kingdom of Heaven. “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few” we read in Scripture.

We know what happens when the rains come to the fields that produce our food. Those plants seem to perk up, say thank you, and almost promise to do the best they can to produce. I know that some of those plants won’t make it because they were too far gone. The amazing thing is that the farmer will plant again next year not knowing if there will be too much rain, not enough or if it will be just right.

In the harvest of souls, we also need to do that. We need to feed those seeds of faith over and over again. In this case, there is no soul that is beyond hope, for when a person opens a heart to God, it is a new life and a new opportunity.

As the farmer keeps planting the seeds in the soil year after year in the hope those seeds will be nourished and grow, so also we must plant those seeds of faith over and over again in the hope that the person will openly receive the nourishment of God’s Word.

WHAT KIND OF A HARVEST WILL YOU HAVE? None if you don’t plant the seeds.

WE PRAY: Heavenly Father, we ask that you would send favorable weather wherever your people live. We pray for protection from destructive storms and floods that often follow. We also ask that you would send your Holy Sprit upon all who believe that they might be inspired to scatter the gentle rain drops of faith upon those who have not yet heard the old, old story of Your Son and His Love. AMEN. P.S., Lord, help me to do my part as well.

A SUGGESTION FOR LIVING THE DEVOTION

If you are not doing so, make an extra effort to begin daily devotions and Bible reading. It is important that you do this NOW or you may have all of Eternity to regret it.