Keep Sowing Seeds

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you, according to Luke 6:38.  Clearly, God is so pleased that we choose to care about others rather than just ourselves that He abundantly responds in kind.    

The principle of God, which Galatians 6:7 introduces by reminding us that God is not mocked, is that what a man sows he will surely reap.  This same concept is declared in 1 Peter 3:9 where the Holy Spirit states that we are called to bless that we might receive the blessing.  We don't just do it for the return blessing, but as sure as God is, He does reward our smallest and biggest effort, from giving a glass of water to little one to laying our life down for others.

The obvious problem with giving is that often the people we seek to bless may take advantage of us, or worse yet, turn on us.  So, it is important to remember that we give to God by blessing others, and we do it in obedience to Him.  Then it doesn't matter whether the ones we help appreciate our work or not, God knows our heart and every detail of what we do.  Therefore, Galatians 6:9 reminds us to not be weary in well doing for in due time we shall surely reap.  The central issue is do we trust that God is faithful to His promise.   

The nature of God is love which gives.  Because God is a giver, and is so good, His life in us motivates and empowers us to give: to give thanks to Him always, to give our resources to others in need, and to be ready to bless every person that He directs.  Give and it will be given.  In all this, we simply cannot outgive God, He will surely honor those who honor Him by giving.  Keep sowing seeds and trust God to produce the harvest.  

Hear the Word, Think Truth, Bless the Lord

This morning I was spending some time in Psalm 103.  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!  What a great reminder that we need to let the " Word," which is spirit and life according to Jesus in John 6, take charge over our flesh and soul and simply obey.  

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems you life from destruction (KJV says the pit), who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagles's.  God has done so much for us.  How can we focus on the negative when we are so blessed!  

This morning in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, we are reminded by His Word that not only are my sins forgiven, but my diseases are healed.  So I have been trying to fight the good fight of faith by declaring "Thank you, Jesus, for taking those stripes for me and carrying away my diseases and pains.  By your stripes I am healed." and "Thank you, Holy Spirit,.  You, who are the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead,  now give life to my mortal body." and "No weapon formed against me shall prosper." 

  Somehow I had forgotten the line that He crowns me with lovingkindness and tender mercies.  To me "crowns" means makes me a king, or gives me authority to rule.  HIs mercy allows and empowers me to take charge and declare God's kingdom over every circumstance.  Praise God forever, when I realize how blessed I am, no wonder my youth is renewed like the eagles.  I want to be like a little child that trusts his Mom and Dad and is excited and enthusiastic about all tthat they have planned for him.  God has done great things for me, and now I trust Him to work all things for my good because I love Him and am called according to His purpose.  

One more line, later in the psalm it talks about God showing His ways to Moses, and I remember an old song, "Teach me thy ways, thy ways O Lord.  Show me thy paths, thy paths, O Lord.  O my God, I trust in thee, let me not be ashamed, let not my enemies triumph over me."   Truly, God;s ways are perfect and we are always right when we declare and take time to "Bless the Lord, O my soul!"