ODJ: good fruit
January 6, 2012
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up (v.9).
READ: Galatians 6:1-10
My 12 year old son’s teacher asked his class what age they would like to be. Most of his friends shared that they preferred the freedom that came with being older, but my son said he wanted to be 9 again because his classmates were kinder then and swore less. I winced a little for his end of innocence, and I pondered the inevitable life changes that each person must face.
Everyone begins life tainted by sin, with roughly the same moral character. There is no discernible difference between the babies of godly parents and the infants born into dysfunctional families. Besides the occasional undisciplined brat, most toddlers are a similar mix of cute and crabby. Yet the seeds that are planted at this age slowly grow throughout childhood until they burst through in adolescence and blossom into a fully formed man or woman.
Paul assures us that the law of the harvest is never broken. Those who sow seeds of lust and pride will reap a deadly bent toward selfishness, for “You will always harvest what you plant” (Galatians 6:7). Toddlers who are never disciplined may grow up to be socially maladjusted, while children who watch adult movies struggle with twisted views of violence and sex.
Thankfully, the law of the harvest also works in the other direction. Paul explains that “those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit” (v.8). Just as it may take some time for the seeds of sin to show their fruit, we must patiently wait for our good choices to flower for all to see.
Others may not notice your change right away, but give it time. Your decision to live for Jesus today will determine who you are tomorrow. People will notice. As Job 4:8 declares, “My experience shows that those who plant trouble and cultivate evil will harvest the same.” —Mike Wittmer
What weeds do you need to root out of your life? What good seeds, with God’s help, should you plant in their place?
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