So... I'm up early. 3 am to be exact. Anyone who knows me knows that this is not completely unusual. Anyway, I'm doing what I do when I wake up every morning....regardless of the time. I make my coffee. Sit down and turn on the news to see what has happened while I was catching a few zzzz's. In the meantime I pull out my phone and catch up on Facebook too. What has been going on with my friends and my world while I was sleeping...
A close friend is undergoing tests on his heart this morning. A few from the east coast have posted their encouraging words for the day. Others have invited me to play games. You know how it goes because we all see pretty much the same thing each day. As I scroll down I watch videos of how to prepare crock pot meals that I "like" but will probably never try.
I keep scrolling. And scrolling. And scrolling.
A name comes up. A family who used to be so strong in the Lord. Used to be. Used to be passionate for Jesus. Used to be the loudest of amen-ers. Used to be at practically every Bible study offered because they were hungry. And then one day, years later, things were not going like they thought they should. One day they believed that they had spiritually surpassed those around them. One day they begin to entertain and even finally participate in negative conversation. One day they "gave place to the devil". The scary thing is that that is all he needs. The evil one (as Jesus calls him) just needs a little opportunity in order to reek havoc.
One of the things really sad is that I'm not sure they recognize that "havoc" has been reeked. From the looks of their posts I'm pretty sure that they are pretty sure they are fine. It does look like they're having fun. You know....the frog in the kettle story. Just a little heat at a time and you don't even realize...........you're being cooked.
Hear me---I am not making judgments. I'm up early this morning grieving. And interceding. And warning others.
Yes, I'm grieving for them this morning. I certainly don't know everything. But I have seen enough in my 56 years to know what is down the road for this family if they don't WAKE UP. I've seen too much bad seed reap too much pain and consequences.
We can continue with our religious lingo all day long....But the Bible says, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap." The Apostle Paul penned this! New Testament. Book of Galatians. Chapter 6, verse 7. It's there.
In other words....Don't think you are fooling God with your religious rhetoric. He has put the laws of the harvest into place. He does not break His own laws. WHAT YOU PLANT IS WHAT YOU GROW. And you can't plant something and not tend to your crop. You must also cultivate your seed. You can't choose the way "that seems right to a man". The Word tells us that if you do, death and destruction are what you will reap.
You want a strong marriage? You can't do it without Jesus at the center of it and He is not at the center if He is not THE Foundation. He's not the Foundation if you begin out by living together unmarried first. I'm not talking about the ones who came to know Jesus after mistakes were made, I'm talking to "believers" who have chosen their own path. When we know "the right thing to do and do not do it" it is sin. Unfortunately, many plant sin and expect blessing to grow!
And that's just one example. We can all fill in the blank of what we want to produce. Strong, truly spiritual children? A godly marriage? Health? Stability? Blessing? Healthy relationships? What do you want?
If you want to reap _____________________, then you plant and cultivate seed that will produce __________________.
I'm not making this up and it's not MY opinion. It's Bible. If you "sow" what feels good and right to us--but does not line up with the Word of God, we will receive Corruption as our harvest. But if we sow things of the Spirit--which DO line up with the Word of God, we reap eternal life. We can't become discouraged and choose our own ways because IF we are faithful to Him and His ways, we will reap HIS blessings. Again Galatians. Again, chapter 6. This time, verses 8 & 9.
Come on, people of God. He loves us so much that He literally laid down His life for us. He lives for us............Let's live for Him!
