Journal Entry ~ 01/08/18

9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. - Galatians 6:9-10

It’s always important when we read scripture to read it in context, not to isolate a verse and read into it what we want to hear, but to read each verse as it relates to the passage around it. This verse is no different. While it may sound simply like encouragement to continue to be nice when we grow frustrated with the people around us, it’s so much more than that. 

When we read the verse that comes just before these two, we see it 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. - Galatians 6:8. If you do these things, you will reap eternal life, but if you do not, you will reap corruption. You will not reap eternal life. Let that sink in. What’s at stake here is not just God asking us to be kinder to the people in our lives, God is telling us that our eternal life depends on our ability to continue to do good.  Whether we make it to heaven or not depends on whether or not we grow weary of doing good. Kind of changes things, doesn’t it?  Our salvation depends on whether or not we continue to do good. 

It’s also important to read scripture in the context of scripture as an entirety. We need to remember all the truths He’s taught us in His Word to make sense of what we read in each verse. We know we are a forgiven people. We know God sent His only Son into this world to die for our sins so that we may live an eternal life. He does not hold our sins against us. We cannot lose that beautiful gift to us just because we lose our patience. It’s what lives in our hearts that is important. When we read other scripture, it helps us to understand this verse.  So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. James 4:17. When we know what’s right, and we intentionally do what’s wrong, we are sinning. We also know 15 This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength Isaiah 30:15. Our salvation is in repentance, or returning to the Lord as the ESV bible reads, and it’s in our choice to rest in the Lord. When we choose to do what’s wrong without repentance, that’s when our eternal life is not secured. 

Don’t give up if you screwed up yesterday, last week, or 10 years ago. Don’t stop trying to do good, even if you lost it just a few minutes before reading this. Repent of your sin, take a deep breath, and get out there again to do good. 


Press on ~ you are loved 💗

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