SPRING FLING
Falling in love with Jesus is not just a fling. It’s time to grow in Christ!
March 6th, 2023
the Apple Doesn’t Fall Far
Galatians 6:7-9, ‘God will never be mocked! For what you plant will always bring the very thing you harvest. The harvest you reap reveals the seed that you planted. If you plant the corrupt seeds of self-life into this natural realm, you can expect a harvest of corruption. If you plant the good seeds of Spirit-life, you will reap beautiful fruits that grow from the everlasting life of the Spirit. And don’t allow yourselves to be weary in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming!’ (TPT)
I will be so bold to say, that apart from Jesus, we as human beings are unable to reap something different than we have sown in our past. True, we can outgrow some childhood behaviors such as being wound up with orneriness or insolence, and we can learn to overcome some challenges like anxiety, lack of understanding and attentiveness, even shyness. But to truly change and become a new creation, that takes the forgiveness and grace from the Master Gardener, Jesus. For what we sow, we reap; and it follows us everywhere we go.
Much of the nation lately has been gripped by this transfixing murder trial playing out on a courtroom stage in the South, the Alex Murdaugh trial. Not one but actually numerous cases have and will come from just this one man and his family. You know what is sad to me? Because of what the family has always sown—doubt, lies, deceit, suspicion, fear in others, pervading distrust, cynicism, hatred, disbelief, animosity—that is what they will for generations reap. Even though many of the town’s people are unable to verbalize aloud what their beliefs and suspicions are due to their fear and distrust of this prominent family, it is wildly underlying; everyone knows with certainty of their guilt. Unless something recklessly graceful from a forgiving and passionate God interrupts the life of this man or remaining members of his family, there will not be change in their actions nor to the consequences which are just beginning to ripen and quickly spoil. The world tries to change us from the outside in, but true change comes from within, and only God can change a person from the inside out. It is my guess that this pitiful man hasn’t a chance unless he meets Jesus in prison, because of what he has always sown. Everyone’s mind is already made up.
We tend to live lives that we think oftentimes are beyond consequence when rather we should be learning to live above reproach. Everything we do affects someone else, whether family, co-workers, neighbors, acquaintances. There is a stain that spreads crimson, and in humanity’s mind, impossible to wipe clean. The blemishes of our choices follow us wherever we go; sometimes, even pursuing behind our families for generations. There are natural consequences to our actions, and sometimes, there are even painful fallouts causing irreparable damages. The enemy whips us with the very thing he just tempted us with, and he takes joy in our demise and could care-a-less about the aftermath. The weight we continue to carry can even burden us to old age and our death.
But there is a Savior Who can change all of that. For us. For our families. Sometimes others don’t forget and forgive, but Jesus does. He chose to die on a cross tragically, by human hands, so we might live; He lives so we might be able to die to self and to our past life, and start fresh. He is just waiting for you and me to put the burden down, to let Him clean us from the filth of the enemy’s wicked schemes that are blemishing us, so we might be free. Free indeed.
Isaiah 55:10-11, ‘”As the snow and rain that fall from heaven do not return until they have accomplished their purpose, soaking the earth and causing it to sprout with new life, providing seed to sow and bread to eat, so also will be the Word that I speak; it does not return to Me unfulfilled. My Word performs My purpose and fulfills the mission I sent it to accomplish.”’ (TPT)
