Morning Devotionals
Saturday Morning - Galatians 6:6-10
6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
———————
Here to the churches in Galatia, Paul writes in the hope that they will persevere and not give up. Surrounded by social pressures, the presence of false teachers, and persecution, the temptations to give up in the spiritual disciplines or even simply doing good were ever so present for the church. And this is precisely why Paul encourages the churches to “not grow weary of doing good, for in due season” they will reap (v. 9).
But what are we to reap in this due season? Though we are not necessarily promised that our earthly ministries will prosper, or that we will get that internship or job that we’ve always been working so hard for, we are promised something even greater and better: eternal life (v. 8). It is the very divine blessings from our God — that cannot be contained here on earth — that we are to reap as we continue to persevere in doing good.
We will undoubtedly have many ups and downs in our lives. Still, Paul exhorts the church here not to give up, for just as God was with all of the heroes of the faith, He will be with us too as we abide in His Spirit and bear its fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal. 5:22-23).
As we reflect on this passage, may we be encouraged to persevere in doing good to all, remembering that His Spirit works in us, strengthens us, and never leaves us.
Sunday Morning - James 1:2-4
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
———————
What does it mean to “count it all joy”? How can we truly be joyful and filled with great felicity when life's moments are so hard? That is what James writes about and teaches to fellow believers living in the Roman-dominated (secular) world.
They were facing backlash, intense poverty, and persecution — trials that seemed impossible to handle and deal with. But this is exactly when the author gives a vision for suffering: it is not merely arbitrary, capricious pain, but rather moments that God uses to sharpen and shape us.
Because trials and suffering test the faith — that is, one’s faith in the divine providence and sovereignty of God — they produce steadfastness that ultimately leads to the Christian's perfection and completion in God. Here, the word “steadfastness” (Gk. hupomone) is a combination of two Greek words: under + remaining/abiding, meaning to remain under or abide under. This refers to an active, continued endurance in the face of difficulties as one learns to abide in the faith and to trust in God’s sovereignty. The words “perfect” and “complete” here refer to the full spiritual maturity and wholeness that the Christian actively strives for as he endures trials and tribulations, leading him to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, more and more.
Thus, as we meditate over these verses and perhaps even what the Lord is teaching us in this current season of suffering (or what He has taught us in past seasons of suffering), may we learn to trust in His sovereignty and divine providence, recognizing that He remains in careful guidance and watch over our lives, tending us as we are His sheep, a part of His flock.
6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
———————
Here to the churches in Galatia, Paul writes in the hope that they will persevere and not give up. Surrounded by social pressures, the presence of false teachers, and persecution, the temptations to give up in the spiritual disciplines or even simply doing good were ever so present for the church. And this is precisely why Paul encourages the churches to “not grow weary of doing good, for in due season” they will reap (v. 9).
But what are we to reap in this due season? Though we are not necessarily promised that our earthly ministries will prosper, or that we will get that internship or job that we’ve always been working so hard for, we are promised something even greater and better: eternal life (v. 8). It is the very divine blessings from our God — that cannot be contained here on earth — that we are to reap as we continue to persevere in doing good.
We will undoubtedly have many ups and downs in our lives. Still, Paul exhorts the church here not to give up, for just as God was with all of the heroes of the faith, He will be with us too as we abide in His Spirit and bear its fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal. 5:22-23).
As we reflect on this passage, may we be encouraged to persevere in doing good to all, remembering that His Spirit works in us, strengthens us, and never leaves us.
- How can we “do good to everyone”? What does this tangibly look like? What can I specifically do today to do good to someone?
- How do we fully rely on His Spirit to strengthen us? What does true surrender look like?
- Is our hope and joy set on the eternal blessings that we ought to receive? How can I remind myself of this and do this daily?
Sunday Morning - James 1:2-4
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
———————
What does it mean to “count it all joy”? How can we truly be joyful and filled with great felicity when life's moments are so hard? That is what James writes about and teaches to fellow believers living in the Roman-dominated (secular) world.
They were facing backlash, intense poverty, and persecution — trials that seemed impossible to handle and deal with. But this is exactly when the author gives a vision for suffering: it is not merely arbitrary, capricious pain, but rather moments that God uses to sharpen and shape us.
Because trials and suffering test the faith — that is, one’s faith in the divine providence and sovereignty of God — they produce steadfastness that ultimately leads to the Christian's perfection and completion in God. Here, the word “steadfastness” (Gk. hupomone) is a combination of two Greek words: under + remaining/abiding, meaning to remain under or abide under. This refers to an active, continued endurance in the face of difficulties as one learns to abide in the faith and to trust in God’s sovereignty. The words “perfect” and “complete” here refer to the full spiritual maturity and wholeness that the Christian actively strives for as he endures trials and tribulations, leading him to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, more and more.
Thus, as we meditate over these verses and perhaps even what the Lord is teaching us in this current season of suffering (or what He has taught us in past seasons of suffering), may we learn to trust in His sovereignty and divine providence, recognizing that He remains in careful guidance and watch over our lives, tending us as we are His sheep, a part of His flock.
- When have we faced trails or moments of suffering in our lives, what was God trying to teach us then?
- Is our suffering drawing us closer to Christ? How can we better reflect on His earthly sufferings and relate them to ours?
- How can we tangibly “count it all joy” in seasons of trouble? What does that actually look like? How can I “count it all joy” today?