Isaiah 3-4 Galatians 6

“Do not be fooled: You cannot cheat God. People harvest only what they plant. If they plant to satisfy their sinful selves, their sinful selves will bring them ruin. But if they plant to please the Spirit, they will receive eternal life from the Spirit.” (Galatians 6:7-8 NCV)

People in ancient times understood farming. As Paul finished his letter to the Galatians, he used a farming illustration to drive his point home. There were people in those days that claimed that if you followed Christ, you lived in the spirit. Since spirit is good and body is evil, you can live however you want because it’s only the spirit that’s important. Paul made it clear that people reap what they sow. If they live as if sin controls their lives, sin will ruin them. On the other hand, if they seek to live in obedience to the Spirit of God, they’ll experience the joy of eternal life. And just for the record, I don’t believe eternal life starts when we die. Eternal life begins the day we turn to God through faith in Jesus.

People in today’s world still try to justify the same kinds of behaviors that Paul condemned in his day. They respond to concerns about behaviors that don’t honor God by noting that God will forgive them. They deride those who would seek to live by God’s standards as legalists. Some may be, but most are seeking God’s grace to live right and be a positive witness to the world about the transforming power of God’s grace. The difference between the two camps is one of attitude. Those who would indulge their sinful desires because God will forgive them anyway miss an important point about God’s plan: His desire is that people have an amazing fellowship with Him. God isn’t an eternal killjoy out to prevent you from enjoying life, He’s the giver of life – of eternal life. Those who recognize that God wants to have fellowship with them and the joy of that fellowship is increased when we seek to live lives that honor God by depending on His grace, experience the joy of eternal life. The joy keeps growing as we stay true to Him.

Lord, thank You for Your grace that brings forgiveness for my every sin. Thank You even more that Your grace can keep me from sinning and allow me to enjoy eternal life even more.

Scripture taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.