Sowing and Reaping: Perseverance in Faith and Service

Devotional

Day 1: You Reap What You Sow

Every action, thought, and attitude in your life is a seed that will inevitably produce a harvest—either for good or for harm. There is no neutral ground; even when you think you are doing nothing, you are sowing something, and what you sow will always yield a greater return than what was planted. This principle applies to every area of life, whether in relationships, habits, or spiritual pursuits. The challenge is to honestly examine what you are sowing today, knowing that the harvest will come, and it will be larger than you expect. [38:19]

Galatians 6:7-10 (NIV)
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Reflection: What is one specific “seed” you are sowing today—through your words, actions, or attitudes—that you want to see God multiply for good in your life or in someone else’s?

Day 2: Keep Sowing Good Seed, Even When It’s Hard

Perseverance in doing good is often difficult, especially when the results are not immediate or when sacrifice is required. Sometimes sowing good seed means giving up comfort or enduring hardship, trusting that God’s timing for the harvest is perfect, not ours. Even when it feels like your efforts are unnoticed or unrewarded, God promises that those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. The call is to keep sowing, even when it costs you, believing that God will bring a harvest in due season. [47:20]

Psalm 126:5-6 (NIV)
Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

Reflection: Where in your life are you tempted to give up sowing good seed because you haven’t seen results? What would it look like to trust God with the timing of your harvest?

Day 3: Jesus Reaped What We Sowed—And We Reap What He Sowed

The ultimate hope for every believer is that Jesus took upon Himself the consequences of our sin, reaping the punishment we deserved, so that we could reap the reward of His righteousness. Our salvation is not based on our own good works, but on the finished work of Christ, who sowed His life in sacrifice and offers us forgiveness, healing, and new life. This exchange is the foundation of our faith: we bring our brokenness, and He gives us His wholeness. [59:06]

Isaiah 53:4-6 (NIV)
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to receive the forgiveness and righteousness Jesus offers, rather than trying to earn it or carry the weight yourself?

Day 4: Small Choices Today Shape Generations Tomorrow

The seeds we sow do not only affect our own lives, but can have a multiplying effect on our families and future generations. Even small compromises or small acts of faithfulness can grow into something much larger over time, for better or for worse. God is able to restore and set a new standard, no matter what has been sown in the past, but we are called to take seriously the impact of our choices today. [52:57]

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NIV)
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Reflection: What is one “small” decision or habit you can change today that could set a new standard of faithfulness for those who come after you?

Day 5: Look for Opportunities to Do Good—Start with God’s Family

God calls us to be intentional about seeking opportunities to do good, especially within the community of believers. Serving behind the scenes, loving sacrificially, and meeting practical needs are all ways to sow seeds that build up the body of Christ and reflect God’s love to the world. True spiritual health is seen not just in public acts, but in the willingness to serve where no one notices, starting with those closest to us in the faith. [54:09]

John 13:34-35 (NIV)
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Reflection: Who in your church family or faith community could you serve or encourage in a practical way this week, even if no one else sees it?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered in the presence of God, inviting Him to address anything that stands between us and Himself. In the quietness of our hearts, we acknowledged our discouragements, our struggles with sin, and our longing for freedom and fruitfulness. God’s word to us is one of encouragement: this journey of faith is not a sprint but a marathon, and He calls us to steadfastness and trust. Jesus is ready to set us free from the lies and deceptions that bind us, inviting us to embrace His truth and grace.

We reflected on the principle of sowing and reaping from Galatians 6. Each of us is always sowing something—there is no neutral ground. What we plant, whether to please our own desires or to please the Spirit, will inevitably produce a harvest, and that harvest will be greater in impact than the seed itself. This is a sobering and hopeful truth: the seeds of encouragement, service, and faithfulness we plant today will yield a harvest in due time, even if we do not see immediate results. Conversely, seeds of selfishness or neglect will also bear fruit, often in ways we do not anticipate.

We considered the perseverance required to keep sowing good seed, even when the results are delayed or the cost is high. Like the Israelites sowing with tears, sacrificing today for a future harvest, we are called to continue in faithfulness, trusting that God’s timing is perfect. The story of a faithful servant who, despite disability and loss, resolved to keep sowing for the sake of others, reminded us that our calling to sow does not end with our circumstances.

We also examined the generational impact of what we sow. Small deviations from God’s standard can multiply over time, but God is able to restore and set a new standard for us and our families. We are encouraged to serve and do good, especially within the family of believers, not out of compulsion but as an opportunity to reflect Christ’s love.

Finally, we remembered that the ultimate act of sowing and reaping is found in Jesus. He reaped the consequences of our sin so that we might reap the benefits of His righteousness. Our good works do not earn us salvation; rather, we receive forgiveness and new life through Christ’s sacrifice. In response, we are invited to confess, receive His cleansing, and continue sowing seeds of faith, hope, and love.

Key Takeaways

1. You Are Always Sowing Something There is no neutral ground in the spiritual life. Every action, attitude, and decision is a seed planted, and it will produce a harvest—good or bad. This truth calls us to intentionality, recognizing that even small choices can have far-reaching consequences. God invites us to examine what we are sowing and to align our lives with His purposes. [38:02]
2. Perseverance in Sowing Good Seed Faithfulness often requires sowing with tears, sacrificing present comfort for future fruit. The harvest may not come in our timing, but God promises it will come if we do not give up. This perseverance is an act of trust, believing that God sees our labor and will bring forth a harvest of joy and blessing in due season. [46:41]
3. The Generational Impact of Our Choices What we sow today shapes not only our lives but the lives of those who come after us. Small compromises can multiply into greater dysfunction, but God is able to restore and set a new standard. Our faithfulness can break cycles and establish a legacy of righteousness for future generations. [52:22]
4. Jesus Reaped What We Sowed—We Reap What He Sowed The gospel is that Jesus took upon Himself the consequences of our sin, and in exchange, we receive His righteousness. Our standing before God is not based on our works but on Christ’s finished work. This truth frees us from condemnation and empowers us to live lives of gratitude and obedience, sowing seeds that reflect His love. [59:22]
5. Serve Where You Are Planted Opportunities to do good abound, especially within the family of believers. True spiritual health is seen in humble, behind-the-scenes service, not just public acts. God calls us to serve faithfully in the places He has put us, knowing that every act of love and service is a seed that will bear fruit. [54:09]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[22:23] - Addressing Discouragement and Sin
[24:15] - Anticipating God’s Word
[25:13] - Celebrating Community Outreach
[27:09] - Prayer Cards and Everyday Evangelism
[29:00] - First Wednesday and Praying for First Responders
[30:14] - NFL Analogy: Spectators vs. Participants
[32:02] - Sowing and Reaping: Galatians 6
[36:09] - What Are You Sowing?
[38:02] - The Inescapable Law of Sowing
[41:01] - Stories of Harvest: Good and Bad
[43:07] - Persevering in Sowing Good Seed
[46:41] - Sowing with Tears, Reaping with Joy
[52:22] - Generational Impact and God’s Restoration
[54:09] - Serving the Family of Believers
[57:36] - Jesus: The Ultimate Sower and Reaper
[59:22] - Receiving Christ’s Righteousness
[64:33] - Communion: Remembering Christ’s Sacrifice
[70:02] - Praying for Healing and Needs

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Galatians 6:7-10 (NIV) — > Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Isaiah 53:4-6 (NIV) — > Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Observation Questions

According to Galatians 6:7-8, what are the two different things a person can “sow” toward, and what are the results of each?
In the sermon, what does the pastor mean when he says, “You are always sowing something. There is no neutral ground in the spiritual life”? [[38:02]]
What example does the pastor give from his own life about seeing both positive and negative harvests from seeds he has sown? [[41:43]]
How does Isaiah 53 describe what Jesus did for us, and how does this connect to the idea of sowing and reaping? [[58:13]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Paul emphasizes that “God cannot be mocked” in the context of sowing and reaping? What does this say about the seriousness of our choices? [[33:02]]
The pastor says, “Faithfulness often requires sowing with tears, sacrificing present comfort for future fruit.” What does it look like to “sow with tears” in real life? [[46:41]]
The sermon talks about the generational impact of our choices. How can small compromises or small acts of faithfulness affect future generations? [[52:22]]
The pastor says, “Jesus reaped what we sowed—He took the consequences of our sin, and we receive His righteousness.” How does this truth change the way we view our own efforts to do good? [[59:22]]

Application Questions

The sermon says, “Every action, attitude, and decision is a seed planted, and it will produce a harvest—good or bad.” What is one area of your life where you realize you’ve been sowing “neutral” or even negative seeds? What would it look like to start sowing good seed there this week? [[38:02]]
Think about a time when you felt discouraged because you didn’t see results from doing good. How did you respond? What would it look like to “not become weary in doing good” in that situation now? [[43:07]]
The pastor shared a story about a faithful servant who kept sowing for others despite disability and loss. Is there a place in your life where you’ve been tempted to stop serving or giving because of your circumstances? What would it look like to persevere? [[49:33]]
Are there any “small deviations” or compromises in your life that you’ve justified as “no big deal”? How might these choices impact your family or those who come after you? [[52:57]]
The sermon encourages us to “serve where you are planted,” especially within the family of believers. What is one practical way you can serve someone in your church family this week, even if it’s behind the scenes? [[54:09]]
The pastor said, “Our good works do not earn us salvation; rather, we receive forgiveness and new life through Christ’s sacrifice.” How does this truth free you from condemnation and motivate you to keep sowing good seed? [[59:22]]
Is there something you need to confess to God today—an area where you’ve been sowing the wrong kind of seed? What would it look like to receive His forgiveness and start fresh? [[01:08:13]]

Sermon Clips

You are sowing something, and that something you are sowing will produce something. So first of all, you can't think it's in neutral. You're not sowing anything. You're sowing something. The thing you are sowing, you can't hope it's not going to go anywhere. It's going to go somewhere. It's going to produce something. The something that it produces is going to be larger in impact or volume than the thing you sow. These are three truths. Truths in agriculture and truths in the spirit realm. You're sowing something. The something you sow will produce something, and that thing that's produced will be greater than what was sown. Good or bad. [00:37:50] (47 seconds) #SowToGrow

If you're not gathering with me, you're scattered. In other words, if you're not in forward motion, you're in backward motion. There is no neutral. You are sowing something. You are sowing something. That something that you sow will produce something. So if you think you're doing, it's just kind of neutral, you're wrong. You're sowing something. Good news or bad news is it's going to produce something. And that thing that is produced is going to be larger in impact than you had ever imagined. [00:39:16] (45 seconds) #NoNeutralZone

Those who sow with tears. Why are they sowing with tears? Because I've got this bag of grain over here and I could feed my family. But I know if I feed my family, that bag is going to become empty. And then I'm not going to have anything from them. So I'm going to have to tell my family, we're only going to be able to eat two meals today. Because we have to have some of this grain to be seed to plant for down the road. So I'm going to sow with tears of sacrifice. So I can reap three months later with songs of joy. [00:46:39] (32 seconds) #SowWithSacrifice

Don't be fooled. God has a principle that never changes. You will reap what you sow. And if you don't give up sowing good seed, you will reap a good harvest in time. [00:47:29] (22 seconds) #ReapWhatYouSow

If you think it's okay, you're just a little bit off, what's the big deal, right? You know, maybe God's standard is here. I'm just slightly below that. I'm not kind of, you know, too much work to live up to that last 5%. I just, I call it. But I want to caution you, because it's going to manifest deeper to miss in the next generation, and deeper still in the third generation. So I just wanted to encourage you, if you're the one who's short, is that God can restore. But I want to caution you to not think that what you are doing is no big deal, because it's going to be a bigger deal as it goes down the road. [00:52:59] (45 seconds) #SmallMissBigImpact

If you can't serve in your local church, then don't tell me that you're out there, you're serving everybody. Serve right here. Serve here and then serve out there. Especially to those who belong to the family of believers. [00:54:59] (22 seconds) #ServeLocalFirst

``He gave his righteousness in exchange for my wickedness. He went to the cross so that I didn't have to go to the cross. I didn't have to pay for the cross. The seed of sin that I've sown in my life, Jesus paid for it on the cross. And then, in exchange, he gave me his righteousness that I could live a life that is making a difference. Live a life that is connected to God and his Holy Spirit. [00:59:40] (33 seconds) #RighteousExchange

If you're a believer, I want you to understand this concept that what you sow, what you will reap, keep sowing good stuff. You'll reap it. The harvest is coming. If you're not yet a believer, don't think that if you just start doing a few more good things, it'll make it all better. No. We've got to start, if we're not yet in the faith with Jesus, we've got to start here, understanding there's only one way. That is for me to accept what Jesus did on the cross. To confess my sin and my need for him. Not somehow my good deeds plus Jesus. No. It's Jesus. Then he puts his Holy Spirit in me and then there's good deeds that I can do. [01:00:17] (42 seconds) #FaithNotWorks

Maybe there's been things that you have grown up with, with your parents or with a previous church or whatever. And whenever you hear a message like this, you just immediately go into condemnation mode. And the Lord doesn't want you to go into condemnation. You don't have to be able to justify yourself to your spouse. Or even to yourself. Or even to me or to anybody else. You just have a conversation with Jesus. And if he's saying, I'm pleased with what you're sowing, just celebrate. It's good. It's good. No one else has to be impressed if Jesus is impressed. [01:02:16] (37 seconds) #CelebrateYourSowing

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