Where’s My Harvest?

Where’s My Harvest?

Sister Miki Terayama - 9 July 2022

Weekend Devotion: Where's My Harvest?

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Brothers and sisters, are you one that easily gets disheartened or always quick to give up on tougher matters ? It can be in any areas from studying, working, serving in church, or ministering to people. Do you tend to step back once you are met with some difficulties?

Now there are many reasons for having a nature that easily gives up. It can be because we do not want to commit in things long term because it inconveniences us. Or it is usually because we are not sure if what we are doing is right or good enough, thus leading to a sense of lack. But over all, it is the matter of our pride and our perseverance. When we feel like we cannot live up to the task, we fear making mistakes, then our pride will hold us back from making us possibly be a letdown. Or we may know that there is something we should do, but due to some challenges or personal barriers, we lack perseverance to press on through with what God calls us to do. This is a very real issue we can face with, thus let us be encouraged by God’s word today.

In Galatians 6:7-9 says, “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.” 

Sowing to please the Spirit.

Firstly, in the last verse, it says to “not become weary in doing good.” What does “doing good” mean? There are so many definitions of “doing good” in this world, so which is the right spiritual standard to look at? Now in the first part of the verse, it gave us the answer— “Whoever sows to please the Spirit.” Then in turn, it will lead to the bearing of the fruits of Spirit as mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23. So we cannot merely do some good deeds to deem it as doing good, like merely giving money to the poor or spend time to take care of someone. These are all good, but it must be done to please the Spirit. The definition of doing good is to do what God calls us to, even if it is the smallest deed or a tall task. Just like Jesus said in Matthew 10:42, “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” Or even when we pray for someone behind-the-scenes, serve in ministries that are less noticeable to people. We have to ask, “is this what the Lord has brought me to do?” And when we are doing it, we should be Spirit-filled, desiring to bear the fruit of the Spirit. Not lamenting, comparing, desiring recognition or for self satisfaction. Brothers and sisters, importantly, let us not compartmentalise what “doing good for the Lord” is from our daily lives. It should not be something done especially on a separate occasion or only when we are in church, or when we pray. This is where we tend to set boundaries for when we should be doing good. In all things, we should seek God’s perfect will, affirm that it is what God convicts you to do. Then from there, we will see fruits of the spirit bearing naturally. That is what the Lord meant in the verses to “do good”.

Let us not become weary in doing good.

Then the verse continues to say not to “become weary” as we do the good we are called to. Why so? Because surely, on our journey, it will be met with challenges. When we are studying, we will have stress from our grades and projects. When we work, there will be the workload and demands from it. And now, with weeks that we have Reformed Training Class on Saturdays and Sunday Services, we may feel that our weekends are packed. Or if we are ministering to people, we may have to also face their emotions. That is why, many may start off on a good note to do according to God’s will, but to follow through to the end is the hard part, leading to disappointment, being disheartened and easy to want to give up in future matters. Here, we have to know, when it comes to doing good, we must not back out at the last minute or give up half way through.

At the proper time, there will be harvest.

But why should we persevere on when it is so hard? Because in verse 9, it says “at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Many times when we serve the Lord or men, one of the perspective we quickly blur out after a while is that we are actually accountable to God, not to men. What we reap comes from Him. When we do something, the success or failure is actually not based on the outcomes we see, but whether it pleases our God. If God is pleased with our offering, He will surely reward us. 

What kind of reward? Now as I serve the Lord through the years, there are many times where I have ministered to different children, interact with youths and even people my age. Sometimes, I see how their faith is build up, while for some, they may still be far from coming before God, but does that mean that I did not reap any “harvest”? No, instead, as I took time to pray and affirm, God has indeed rewarded me in areas of having a broader yet deeper understanding of people’s heart, more discernment in the way I speak from the Spirit, not from my flesh and this in turn, translates to the way I talk to my own children as I bring them up in the way God has led me. So brothers and sisters, sometimes the reward God gives might not be exactly what we have in mind, but greater than that, He gifts us the building up of our Christian character and Christ-likeness through the grind and hustle, and thus, growing our reliance to God. This is the beautiful and blessed harvest God bestows upon those who press on in “doing good”. Therefore, may this always become a ringing reminder in times we feel disheartened. God bless.

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Miki Terayama
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Miki is a full-time ministry staff at The Blessed Run Ministries. She is a sister who shares a natural, God-given affinity with children and youths. She is married to Randy (NET Group Youth Leader) and has two little ones of her own, Liora and Jude. She is involved in the children, youth and social media ministries.

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