Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Untold Secret: We can enjoy life...

For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ~Galations 6:8

We can enjoy our life (and avoid trouble) if we follow the Holy Spirit's leading. The Word tells us not to grow weary from doing what is right, because God promises that whatever we sow today, we will also reap sometime in the future. ~Galatians 6:9

Be courageous, act nobly, and continue doing what you know is right.

I came across this in the morning devotional from Joyce Meyer today, and I wanted to blog about it because for a long time, I never understood the concept of sowing and reaping. I had no idea what others were talking about. For all I knew, sowing was something you did to clothes and reaping - huh? I always had trouble grasping some of the concepts and messages from the older bible versions that use the Hebrew language and dialect so I figured that's why it didn't make sense to me. It's easy to talk about this scripture now because I actually understand it and realize why some people are so passionate about this scripture. Basically, sowing refers to the things that you do, which are seeds you plant in life. If they are good honorable things, you will reap or be rewarded with the benefits by God. If you plant bad seeds, then you will reap the consequences.

With the sudden death of my father-in-law last week, I am even more inspired by this scripture because he was an example of a man of noble character who sowed A LOT of good seeds! To name a few, he served honorably in the Army and received military honors and awards; he was also a hardworking husband and the father of several adopted kids. That is sowing! I didn't know him that long, but what was special to me was how welcoming he made me feel the few times I talked to him on the phone and when I visited. He even sent me a Christmas gift last year! Like, the fact that he thought about me when he has so many other kids and things to think about is astounding! He definitely sowed a lot and I know he will reap his rewards in heaven. His children love him dearly and are crushed by their loss. They respected him. Everyone did, and although it's an unfortunate situation, it's admirable to see how well they are coming together to take care of their father's funeral arrangements and to get his paperwork in order. May God rest his soul. I pray that he is at peace now and in heaven with his wonderful wife...

If you are ever tempted to sow (or do) things that you know are not right, just be reminded that the scripture says that you will reap (receive) the consequences of your actions, whether good or bad. We all struggle with this at some point or another, so its not being judgemental by any means. We just have to constantly remind ourselves and consult with our conscious when we are in these situations so that we can do the right thing and live a joyful life. There is joy and pleasure in living a holy life ya know :) I know because I'm a Christian, and I still do fun things without compromising my beliefs (i.e. I listen to great music that's not vulgar or offensive, I still go out with my friends, wear nice clothes that aren't provocative, shop, travel, take vacations, go to movies, b-day parties, BBQs, and more!) lol I say all that not to be petty, but just because I feel like it's important to appreciate those small things we take for granted that make life joyful!

There are of course things I still struggle with because I'm not perfect, but overall, I have a joyful life! Sometimes it seems like people think Christians don't have fun, but the secret is, we do! LOL - all in Jesus' name... :)

Overall, my point is to demonstrate that we all can live this scripture of sowing good things. It may require us to make some changes in our current lifestyle and it may not happen overnight, but when we do, the good news is that we can still enjoy life while sowing those good seeds...and not only that, we'll reap the rewards during our journey!

May God bless you in your journey...