Let’s not become discouraged in doing good

Galatians 6 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. ² Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. ³ For if anyone thinks that he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting, but to himself alone, and not to another. ⁵ For each one will bear his own load.

⁶ The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. ⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. ⁸ For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. ⁹ Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary. ¹⁰ So then, while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

¹¹ See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! ¹² All who want to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. ¹⁴ But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵ For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. ¹⁶ And all who will follow this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

¹⁷ From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

Today’s text begins saying: Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.  In 2 Timothy 3:16 Paul says: All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness. We restore those who are doing wrong with and to the word of God. Those who are doing wrong do not need our tolerance. They need correction and rebuke, but it must be done in a spirit of gentleness. It must be done in love. Ephesians 4:15-16 says: Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.  If we are to speak the truth in love, we must first establish that love. We can discipline a child if the child is confident in our love for them. If we discipline in anger rather than in love, the rebuke brings resentment and the correction spurs rebellion and defiance.

The text says: Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.  When Paul says: All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness, it means all scripture. From Genesis to Revelation, God’s word is meant to reveal His love and His plan for people, to redeem and to restore us from sin. We need to sow God’s word in love so that we will reap God’s desire and intention. In Isaiah 55:10-11 God says:  As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it produce and sprout, And providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the purpose for which I sent it.  God’s word, spoken in love will achieve God’s will and His purpose.

Paul continues in the text saying: Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.  If we sow rebuke and correction without love, we will reap resentment and rebellion.  Again, it is not enough that we speak the truth, it must be done in love. Love is demonstrated in our actions not only in our words. Romans 5:8 says: God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. John 3:16 says: God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. God’s love was revealed through His action. It was demonstrated in the cross. 1 John 3:16 says: We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters.  We don’t need to go to the cross for people, Jesus died once for all. The text says: Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. We can learn what it truly means to bear the burdens of others from the account of the crucifixion of Christ. Luke 23:26;33-34 says: When they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, as he was coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus… when they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”  Only Jesus can redeem and restore, only Jesus can take away the burdens that people bear. We though can carry them to the cross so that they can see the love of God for themselves.  

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ; precious Holy Spirit, thank You for the demonstration of Your love. Thank You for Your word, the revelation of Your will and Your plan. May I speak the truth in love, may I do good to others. May I bring them to the place of the cross, so that they too can see and know Your love.  Amen.