7 May ESOCS Devotional
TEXT: GALATIANS 6:7-18
MEMORY VERSE
“Do not deceive yourselves; no one makes a fool of God. You will reap exactly what you plant.” Galatians 6:7
In our text today, Paul emphasized that we are the authors of what we will become. Our life on earth is likened to farming enterprise. A man plants the type of crops he desires to have at harvest. No farmer has ever harvested yam where he planted plantain. Even in the record of biblical miracles, there is no record of such. In their choice of crops to plant, farmers are mindful of the soil of the farm. If the soil is not fertile they boost it with fertilizer.
The God we serve is Omniscient; nothing we do, think, or plan that he does not know. It is gainful for all human beings to be conscious of this truth. Thus, when you chose the kind of life to live on earth, be aware that God knows about it and He does not fail to reward you according to your works. In verse 7 of our text, Paul warned the Church thus: “Do not deceive yourselves; no one makes a fool of God. You will reap exactly what you plant.”
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
The persuasion to pursue life according to worldly desires is almost irresistible and insatiable. Everyone wants the best of everything in life. Thus, men who live after the flesh get what they want, irrespective of the means. But those who rely on God get what they want by the will of God. Getting what you want outside the will and ways of God would certainly lead to a life of covetousness, hatred, envy, immorality, and other sins. But relying on the will of God after doing your best will lead you to perseverance, tolerance, love, faith, and other Christian virtues. The results of these two approaches to life on earth are eternal death and eternal life respectively. In verse 8 of our text, the Bible says, “If you plant in the field of your natural desires, from it you will gather the harvest of death; if you plant in the field of the Spirit you will gather the harvest of eternal life.”
Of a truth, there are instances where one is tempted to stop being good in line with Christian teaching because of the losses and persecutions we encounter in living a Spirit led life. What this tells us is that we live in the world and the world is not only wicked, it is opposed to the will of God. Therefore, we need to press on in living life according to the will and ways of God. At last, God prevails. In verses 9 and 10 of our text, the Bible says, “So let us not become tired of doing good; for if we do not give up, the time will come when we will reap the harvest…as often as we have the chance, we should do good to everyone, and especially to those who belong to our family in the faith.”
May the Lord guide us on the part of truth until the end of life.
CHALLENGES
√ How did you feel when you ran into loss for following the ways of God or prosecuted for doing good?
7 May ESOCS Devotional – PRAYER POINT
√ Lord, give me the strength to overcome the world, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
FURTHER READING
√ Ruth 1:1-22; Jude 1-13
