Giving • Devotion 3

Sowing and Reaping
Justin Dean

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 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 6:7-8

We have all heard the typical, “It’s not you, it’s me” breakup line. More times than not we know that what they are really saying is, “It’s you, but I am trying to be nice.” Generally, we blame relationships that do not go the way we want on other people. It is not just romantic relationships, but friendships, work relationships, and even family ties. We do not like to accept that we may have a part to play in some of the negative interactions we have with others.

Paul calls us to a different line of thinking in Galatians 6:7-8, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 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.”

Hopefully, you know that we are called to both care for and disciple other people. Jesus commands us to do both of these things in Mark 12:29-31 and Matthew‬ ‭28:19-20. Some of us handle these commands in different ways. Some do not follow the Spirit and thus ruin their testimony to others because they are choosing to live, react, and speak according to the flesh. The flesh runs how they interact with others, specifically those closest to them. Some people avoid deep relationships with others because they fear their own shallowness. Some of us speak too much truth without caring or loving those we are discipling and thus, cause deep wounds resulting in broken relationships. Others of us focus so much on loving and comforting others that we do not ever challenge them and speak truth into their lives.‬‬‬‬‬‬

To see how we should sow our relationships with the Spirit, read Ephesians 4:15, “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”

Together, we are called to grow, share the Gospel, and support others in both truth and love. Healthy discipleship cannot happen when one is without the other. We have to be willing to be intentional about how we grow together and reach others with the Gospel.

We see that in John 4:34-36; Jesus says that people are ready, so we should be too, “Jesus said to them, ’My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest?’ Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.’”

Galatians chapter 6 is calling us to answer some questions regarding how we are interacting with others. Are you willing to sow intentionally by both speaking and living the Gospel? Are you ready to reap the harvest through spiritual conversations and discipling others?

As you wrap up your time in devotions today, I want to encourage you to spend some time praying for some people in your life with whom you need to be more intentional (spouse, kids, boss, friends, and neighbors). Ask God to show you how to sow more seeds by living and speaking the Gospel to them this week.