Galatians 6:1-18
1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5 For each one shall bear his own load.
6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
11 See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand!
12 As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
13 For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
17 From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
As we have been born into a spiritual body, it is upon us to care first of all for our own part in that body, but to then also commit to the restoration and protection of the whole as if it were our own. This process is not one that will necessarily have immediate results but requires patient trust in knowing that what is sown will eventually produce with time. It may be easy to quickly produce a religious mark of some kind, a form of fleshly adjustment, but it is only faithfulness to what is sown in the spirit that really has any impact on our new creation in Christ. Any identity that is represented in the flesh is really nothing at all. While there will always be a tendency to promote the flesh – how things look, who has done what, and how much we’ve acquired – the only real role of the flesh in spiritual development is its sacrifice and service. With each tireless sowing of it to the purpose of the kingdom, there can be the expectancy of an eternal harvest.
I am so thankful for the church body that God had joined us to, and I am ever thankful for our pastors that watch over us. Verse 6 has always been a verse that I am aware of, “Let him who is taught in the word share all good things with him who teaches,” but today is the first day that I have seen it in the context of verses 7-8 that talk about sowing and reaping.
We use the God is not mocked verse a lot, but never in the context of sharing all good things with those who teach you the word! It’s a new revelation for me this morning!