Make It Sow

“A man will always reap just the kind of crop he sows! If he sows to please his own wrong desires, he will be planting seeds of evil and he will surely reap a harvest of spiritual decay and death; but if he plants the good things of the Spirit, he will reap the everlasting life that the Holy Spirit gives him.” (Galatians 6:7-8)

When I bought my first sewing machine with embroidery capabilities in 2003, I embroidered and monogrammed everything I could get my hands on.  I especially liked a design depicting a cartoon picture of Star Trek’s Captain Picard with the slogan: “Make it Sew”—a play on Captain Picard’s catch phrase, “Make it so.”  Picard said, “Make it so, ” when he was in a tight spot, had considered all options, and had announced his decision.  The statement, “Make it so,” was an order for his crew to implement his plan. Captain Picard had the life of his crew in his hands.  He was making life and death decisions.  And so are we.

In his letter to the church in Galatia, Paul told the congregation that a bad plan will result  in death and destruction, but a plan carried out in accordance with God’s laws will result in eternal life: “A man will always reap just the kind of crop he sows! If he sows to please his own wrong desires, he will be planting seeds of evil and he will surely reap a harvest of spiritual decay and death; but if he plants the good things of the Spirit, he will reap the everlasting life that the Holy Spirit gives him”(Galatians 6:7-8).[1]  God asks us to implement the plan that he has revealed to us in sacred Scripture.  We will lose our way if we stray from the path that God has led us to; the path will be obscured by the weeds that overtake our souls and lead us into destructive habits and behaviors.  But if we allow God’s Spirit grow within us, he will lead us safely on the road to our forever home.

Make it sow.  Make your life count.  If you believe in the crucified Christ, ask him to forgive you, and live your life in accordance with God’s laws– you will reap great benefits.  But don’t brag about the gifts and blessings you have been given by the grace of God.  Jesus gave the disciples power to overcome the enemy, but warned them against bragging about it:  “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10: 18-20).  When you reap a good crop–when you overcome evil—don’t get all puffed up about what you have done.  Jesus warned against the human tendency to brag about victories.  Instead, give thanks to the one who made the victory possible, and who continues to stand with you.

Paul admonished the Galatians not to boast about anything except Christ crucified: “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world . . . Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule”(Galatians 6: 14-16).   Believing in the crucified Christ, seeking his forgiveness, and living your life following Jesus’ example is all that matters.

When you turn your life over to the crucified Christ, participate in the life of the church, and ask the Spirit to help you make it sow, he will guide you, nurture you, feed you, and comfort you.  Isaiah describes the call the Lord issued to them—to identify with Jerusalem, with the faith, and to rejoice in her joy.  It is a call to us to be involved in and to support the life of the church. To love Jerusalem—to love the church– is to love what she stands for—the place where God dwells in holiness, mercy, and love.  When you belong to a body of believers, you will be comforted as a mother feeds, nurtures, and comforts her infant: “Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her;  .  . . For this is what the Lord says: ‘I will extend peace to her like a river, . . .  As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you;’” (Excerpts, Isaiah 66: 10-13).

God so loved the world that he sent his only Son to earth as a human being to make it sow—to implement the plan that would reap eternal rewards for his precious loved ones—us.  You can reap the rewards of God’s guidance, love, and comfort in this life and secure life with God forever when you believe in the power of the crucified Christ, ask for his forgiveness, and follow his example. Make it sow.

Prayer: “Holy Spirit, think through me till your ideas are my ideas.” Amy Carmichael

Praying the Scriptures:  Choose a word or phrase each day from the following verses taken from Sunday’s Scripture texts to pray during the coming week:

“Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind! He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot– come, let us rejoice in him” (Psalm 66: 5,6).

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.  If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves” (Galatians 6: 2,3).

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6: 7-10).

“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen” (Galatians 6: 14, 17, 18).

He [Jesus] told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’” (Luke: 10:2).

“I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven’” (Luke 10: 19-20).

Diane Cieslikowski Reagan

[1]The Scripture texts for next Sunday are Isaiah 66:10-14; Psalm 66:1-7; Galatians 6:1-10, 14-18; Luke 10:1-20.