THE SEED CATALOGS ARE OUT!!
- Key Verse
- "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary." (Galatians 6:9)
READ TODAY'S PASSAGE-
READ THE CHAPTER
Central Truth
A man reaps what he sows.
Reflections
Gardening inspires me. Living plants pushing up through the earth are always amazing; some provide beauty in the form of flowers, while many provide food to sustain life. About this time of year, when the seed catalogs start to arrive in the mail, I find myself looking through them like a child with a favorite picture book as I fantasize and plan for nurturing a harvest.
That doesn’t always happen. For instance, this past summer, due to a vacation in June and a family wedding in August, our garden was limited to some pots of tomatoes, cucumbers, and eggplant in the fenced portion of the yard. Nonetheless, we had a small harvest, not large enough to share, but high quality. Now as I look out at the rectangular plot, which was the former garden, I marvel at how it has filled with grass and blended into the regular lawn. This makes me think about the simple complexity of the garden: “. . . for whatever a man sows, this will he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)
I’ve been thinking about how this is true with relationships. A person may sow seeds of many kinds into a relationship and even help them to grow. Seeds like love, encouragement, hope, trust, and joy; but we can also sow seeds like doubt and fear. We are the "master gardeners" when it comes to sowing spiritual seeds. We have many choices.
I love Galatians 6:9, which says “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary." This motivates the “spiritual gardener” in me and makes me want to use the various implements in my tool shed like love, kindness, compassion, mercy, forgiveness, understanding and other such tools. . .fertilized by my own relationship with Jesus Christ.
Gardening is a satisfying endeavor. The way I see it, it’s a win/win situation. The planting, watering, growing, harvesting cycle can work in different forms, whether practical or relational. I look forward to the coming season and my motto for this Spring is “Go Sow!”
Discussion Questions
- Consider the spiritual seeds you might plant today or in the coming weeks; are you willing to water them if they’re worthy? Or not sow them at all if they will produce weeds?
- Galatians 6:8 says, “For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” What harvests have you already experienced from your sowing? I encourage you to memorize this verse and then hang it in your tool shed!
Susan Miner
March 10, 2010 08:56 AM
Karen, what a gentle, nurturing spirit you are. The next time I grow weary, I'm going to remember to go to my tool shed and look for Galatians 6:8-9 because of your sweet words.
Rick Black
March 10, 2010 08:58 AM
Thanks, Karen. That is a wonderful picture of how I should live my life. I liked that way you painted that picture of sowing and reaping in my mind. Thanks, Rick
Cindy Molder
March 10, 2010 09:00 AM
On this sunny and warm March morning, your words are a sweet reminder for believers. You have encouraged us to sow eternal seeds!
Jeri Stewart
March 10, 2010 09:26 AM
Your devotion gives me a beautiful visual image to help me focus on building my "garden" for the Lord! Thank you!
Lori Shepherd
March 10, 2010 09:36 AM
Karen, how awesome God's timing was for this devotion! Thanks for the reminder to spread seeds of encouragement, joy, and love in every relationship. If I had a tool shed, I would hang this verse but instead, I will post it on my desk! Lori
glenda garrison
March 10, 2010 09:40 AM
Karen, What a great devotional.....we should always remember to be a spiritual gardner. Glenda
Sonja Settle
March 10, 2010 11:23 AM
Karen, As a kid, we had a HUGE vegetable garden and my sisters and I were each responsible for two rows. I remember pulling weeds sometimes until my hands bled -- but the joy of eating vegetables that I had planted myself and tended myself made it all worth it. Lately, in the things that God has called me to do (motherhood, marriage, various aspects of what God wants us to do in our neighborhood) it is like my hands are bleeding again from trying to do good and I have been growing weary because a harvest seems no where in sight. TODAY was the day I needed to read this devotion. Thank you so much for your encouraging words!
Connie Collins
March 10, 2010 12:34 PM
Thank you, Karen...I enjoyed some wonderful "food for thought" from your spiritual garden this morning!
Marian Snook
March 10, 2010 09:42 PM
Thanks for those thoughtful and meaningful words. I had to think back about our large garden every year as I was growing up. I didn't much like helping my mother "tend" it but I sure liked the food that came out of it. I also remember the "garden" of spitiual learning my Mom instilled in my sister and I. I pray I will always be the careful gardner to my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.