This summer when Lucy began her annual vegetable garden, she planted two poblano pepper plants in between the tomatoes. As the grand harvest approached the peppers looked considerably smaller than poblanos. In fact, they strongly resembled jalapenos, which was quickly confirmed by the first slice and then the taste. How do jalapenos come from a poblano plant? It was a miracle in our own back yard that reversed the inviolable axiom “you reap what you sow.”
Nah. The young starter poblano plant was obviously mislabeled. We do – always – reap what we sow, even if we’re confused about what we’re sowing. This remains an unbreakable principle in farming, and in life. The Bible speaks of it often with the warning not to be tricked into thinking it could be any other way. “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” God made the world this way. Only fools would think that you could cultivate a life of sin, sensuality, and self and then experience spiritual vitality and eternal life. Don’t be deceived!
“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
What is meant by the phrase “the one who sows to the Spirit?” It suggests that we can cultivate our life with God by keeping in step with His Holy Spirit. Throughout the New Testament there are many references to activities that we may do to plant seeds of faith, as it were, preparing for a harvest of blessing in the Spirit, which culminate in eternal life.
- We can be led by the Spirit, a confirming sign that we are children of God. Romans 8:14
- We can walk in the Spirit and thereby resist the desires of our sinful flesh. Galatians 5:16
- We can worship God in the Spirit. Philippians 3:3
- By the Spirit we can put to death the deeds of the body with all its sinful impulses. Romans 8:13
- We can be taught by the anointing of the Holy Spirit, so we live with godly wisdom. 2 John 2:20, 27
- We can pray at all times in the Spirit which produces stronger faith and lasting endurance. Ephesians 6:18; Jude 20, 21
Don’t let your life be mislabeled. What are you planting? What do you hope to harvest? Since we reap what we sow, let us sow a life of dependence upon the Holy Spirit. And let the fruit of our lives be His fruit: Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-control (Galatians 5:22, 23). Sowing to the Spirit is good for us and turns out to be good for those around us as well. The warning not to be deceived is followed by a promise to believe.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:9, 10
With you on the journey,
Tom
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