The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Galatians 6:7-9,
"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever 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."
Here Paul provides a sobering opportunity for reflection. In the previous chapter he called attention to what the acts of the flesh look like, as well as the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Here he says that sowing to please the flesh, the sinful nature, will reap destruction for an individual. On the other hand, sowing to please the Holy Spirit reaps eternal life. This isn't about earning salvation. It is an axiom: what a person does reflects what he is.
Many can start off with a confession of faith, but the fruit of a person's life over time tells the tale as to whether that confession of faith was genuine or not. In Romans 8:12-13 we read, "Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live." In verses 5-8 he gives the reason why: "Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God."
The writer of Hebrews speaks of the persistence of faith as the reflection of a genuine confession of that faith. "We are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory." Hebrews 3:6. Also, Hebrews 3:14, "We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end."
"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever 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."
Here Paul provides a sobering opportunity for reflection. In the previous chapter he called attention to what the acts of the flesh look like, as well as the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Here he says that sowing to please the flesh, the sinful nature, will reap destruction for an individual. On the other hand, sowing to please the Holy Spirit reaps eternal life. This isn't about earning salvation. It is an axiom: what a person does reflects what he is.
Many can start off with a confession of faith, but the fruit of a person's life over time tells the tale as to whether that confession of faith was genuine or not. In Romans 8:12-13 we read, "Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live." In verses 5-8 he gives the reason why: "Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God."
The writer of Hebrews speaks of the persistence of faith as the reflection of a genuine confession of that faith. "We are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory." Hebrews 3:6. Also, Hebrews 3:14, "We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end."
What are we? Just look at what we do: a man reaps what he sows!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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