Galatians 5:13–26; 6:7–10 ‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for… we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.’ (6:9)
Some historians say that Paul’s letter to the Galatians brought about the Protestant Reformation, for Martin Luther preached from and wrote about this letter repeatedly, stressing that by faith alone are we justified before God.
But as Scot McKnight, a modern biblical commentator, says provocatively, ‘While works do not save us, no one is saved without works’.*
For our works reveal the state of our hearts before God. If we have humbled ourselves before God, we will naturally want to please Him through our actions.
If we retain a hard heart, however, we will seek to live for ourselves. And so Paul calls the Galatians – and us – to sow not to please our sinful nature, but to sow to please the Spirit and thus to reap eternal life.
Yes, only through Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross can we find peace with God. But after He’s justified us, cleansing us from our sin and bridging the separation from Him, we must keep on doing good. We aren’t called to rely on cheap grace.
But Paul knows that we can’t do our good works on our own. We must ‘live by the Spirit’ (5:16), who will fill us and empower us to produce His fruit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
We ask our Gardener to cultivate this fruit, that the seeds that were planted at our conversion will produce life.
A Prayer To Make:
‘Father God, we long for a harvest of righteousness, but so often we fail to put You and others first. Cleanse us and move us to live wholeheartedly for You. Amen.’
An Action To Take:
Focus on one fruit of the Spirit prayerfully today, asking God to make it grow and flourish in your life.
Scripture To Consider:
Neh. 8:9–12; Isa. 57:14–16; 1 Cor. 13:4–8; 1 John 4:1–16
