Devotional: Watch What You Plant

Intro:
Walk with me into a garden. Look around at some carrots, squash, tomatoes. There is a key to knowing God in this place. What goes in the ground comes up. Carrot seeds produce carrots. Really! What goes in the ground comes up the same. The Bible calls this principle sowing and reaping. What you sow (plant) you will reap (comes up). Have you ever thought about the reaping part? You always reap in kind, you always reap later and you always reap more. Stop and think through that. Really, stop and think.

With knowing God it is the same. We sow into our relationship with Him and we reap … RELATIONSHIP back …. in kind, later and more than we sowed. I trust you want a close relationship with God but beware it might take a little time … the seed planted dies and then grows over time … it comes up “later”. Our microwave society doesn’t like to wait for anything no less a God we cannot see, touch or feel. But there is good news if we sow time with him and are patient we will see get a return greater than expected in time.

Read: Galatians 6:7-10
7Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up. 10So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.

Think:
Why does Paul warn the Christians about the risk of being deceived? Deceived about what?

What does it mean to “mock” someone? How would God be mocked by us living as if “sow & reap” weren’t real?

Two types of seeds are mentioned in v.8. What does this tell me about possible outcomes for my life? If I do not see the results of my choices today, what can I know for sure about the future? How can I be deceived in this (v.7)

The newspaper is full of stories about people that appeared to have it all together on the outside until ……………… Can you think of any examples?

Do:
What one seed can you give over to God right now that is “corrupting” you? Take a minute and talk with Him about it. Confess any known seeds that do not please the Lord.

Make a commitment to continue planting seeds with God’s Word and prayer. Tell yourself not to get discouraged and give up. You will reap relationship with God in time. You will grow.

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