When I was a child, I would go with my dad to the apple orchard to pick apples. When we
left we always had apples with us. My dad and I would also go blueberry picking. We would
sit down in the middle of a patch of wild blueberries and fill a container with them. Have you
ever walked into an apple orchard and filled a basket with oranges? Or gone to pick a quart
of blueberries and walked away with strawberries? It is pretty basic principle to understand,
that if you plant blueberries that is what you are going to be picking! My brother-in-law and
nephews are farmers, I'm sure they would be shocked to find a harvest of cabbage where they
planted the corn! If you plant squash you are not going to harvest a field of turnip. What is
true in the physical world is also true in the Spiritual.
Galatians 6:7 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap."
Just what is Paul saying in this letter to the churches in Galatia? If one spends their life
sowing deceit and discord, that is what is going to come back at them. Jesus taught this
principle in Matthew 5:7, "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." And
also in Luke 6:38, "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down,
and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the
same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."
This is not just a New Testament teaching. We find back in the book of Job that he said
the same thing! Job 4:8 "Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow
wickedness, reap the same." Hosea 10:12 & 13 "Sow to yourselves in righteousness,
reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till
He come and rain righteousness upon you. Ye have plowed in wickedness, ye have
reaped iniquity." We tend to look at people that have vile natures and think, "They will
eventually get what's coming to them," and so they shall, but so shall we! What are you
sowing in your life? Are you sowing seeds of kindness, mercy, gentleness, love, meekness,
honesty, grace, selflessness, compassion and tenderness? We will be known for how we
live. What do others see growing in the garden of your life? If you have planted hatred,
don't expect to harvest love!
Perhaps you have planted good things...are you weeding? Its very easy for the good to
be choked out by the bad that crops up. As you know from your garden, it doesn't take
long for the pesky weeds to take over and kill many of the tender seedlings that you have
planted with care. In your spiritual garden the weeds of hate, lust, greed, harshness,
deceit, carelessness, impatience, bitterness, anger and pride can sneak in and take over
before you know it. You must daily be on guard for these weeds and get rid of them
immediately.
So...how is your garden growing? Will you be disappointed with the harvest, or are you
putting work and care into your garden? If you are, then you will be blessed with a harvest
that will bring blessing into your life. Jeremiah 17:10 "I the LORD search the heart,
I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the
fruit of his doings."
No comments:
Post a Comment