Monday, June 15, 2020
Scripture for the Day
Galatians 6:7-10
Paul concludes his letter to the church in Galatia encouraging them to keep working for the good of all. He charges them, “So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.” (Galatians 6:9-10).
What do we do when we are feeling weary? How do we respond when we are feeling overwhelmed with what is before us? We are each navigating, to the best of our ability, this covid19 pandemic. In some ways, how we have tried to best respond to this health crisis has been a source of division and strife between us. We are also addressing, in some new and important ways, what it means to be a people who stand for equity, diversity and inclusion. We have certainly been divided as human beings these past couple of weeks.
I have been repeating Galatians 6:9-10 in my mind and heart these past days. In some ways I feel like it’s all too much. I am doing my best to work for the good of all – in response to this global pandemic and in response to violence and racism that is suffocating us. I have not always gotten it perfectly right. None of us have. Perhaps you have felt similarly. Instead of giving in to my worrying and wanting to escape, I’m committed to ‘sow to the Spirit’ (Galatians 6:8) so that we will reap eternal life from the Spirit. There are two ways I’ve been working on this.
As I was sitting to write this devotional, our weekly farmshare from Fresh Harvest GA in Clarkston arrived. We began supporting their work when a friend introduced us to them in the beginning of our shelter at home period mid-March. I get to pick the Georgia grown fruit and vegetables each week. When I pick things I don’t normally pick up at the grocery store, Tony has fun trying out new recipes. This week he’s incorporating hakurei turnips and swiss chard in some great recipes.
The first way I’m working on sowing to the Spirit is taking heart from Paul’s analogy of reaping what we sow. When I keep seeing good fruit and vegetables that have been grown here in our Georgia soil each week, I remember that God who is faithful in these things, will be faithful in our lives as well. We keep on sowing in the Spirit. We keep on seeking with humility to bring love, justice, and mercy. We know that we will not always get it right. We keep on sowing.
The second way I’m working on sowing to the Spirit is by centering on people who are encouraging me and inspiring me in these days. I’m calling to mind people, imperfect people, who employ their hearts and minds to sow to the Spirit. They are people who love Christ and love people and live it out in all sorts of life-giving ways. They are my examples. We are not alone. Stay connected. God is faithful. Let us not grow weary in doing what is right.
