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A Closer Walk

Ever get tired of serving and doing good? Feel like all the time and effort put forth have been for naught? Our God cautions us about this and encourages us to continue on. "And do not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary," Galatians 6:9 NASB. Our God tells us that we will reap, in due time, the harvest of our time, work, and effort for His Kingdom.
Our world as created by the Lord God Almighty includes sowing and reaping, planting and harvesting. The sowing and planting always come before the reaping and harvesting. The way it works is plant first, harvest later. When will the harvest occur? In due time. We will harvest when our Heavenly Father determines that both we and the crop are ready. In farming the crop will be ready when it's ready, or in due time. The farmer needs to prepare himself and his equipment to be ready when the harvest time arrives. Is it the same with us? Do we need to prepare ourselves to be ready for the harvest when it arrives?
A couple of farmer friends related that the winter wheat that is grown locally (and seems to thrive in the Kansas climate) will not produce the wheat kernels that make up the harvest unless the crop freezes at least once. Apparently some plantings require adversity or distress before they will produce a crop to harvest. So if adversity or distress does come our way, we could be reassured that the harvest is getting closer. And in fact that the adversity or distress may be necessary for the sowing to bear fruit.
"So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith," Galations 6:10 NASB. We should do good while we have opportunity. When is that? Generally speaking, the likely answer is most of the time. But there may be times when we ourselves are experiencing adversity, or having distress. That season may hinder us or render us unable to do good. A financial setback, a health issue, a family member in need, could cause us to pause our own efforts for doing good. But these times also could be events that may, in due time, provide even bigger or more meaningful opportunities for us to do good; and to reap the harvest of our good doing.
We know people who were at the Cancer Treatment Center in Tulsa dealing with a serious health issue of their own. And while there they were ministering and doing good for the staff and the other patients at the facility. We know other people who have received phone calls from couples struggling in their marriage. They were able to minister to the couples, and help them work through their struggles. It is likely that marriages were saved because of this.
Distress, adversity, and calamity provide opportunities to minister, and do good, for all people. And especially for those of the household of the faith.

 

Concordia Blade-Empire

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Concordia, KS 66901