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Galatians 6:7–9 — “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

The law of sowing and reaping is one of the unchanging principles of life. A farmer who plants corn should never expect to harvest wheat, and a gardener who scatters thistle seeds cannot complain when thorns spring up. In the same way, the choices we make each day determine the harvest that will come in our lives. Paul’s warning in Galatians 6 is not a threat from an angry God, but a reminder of a spiritual reality that cannot be avoided: you will reap what you sow.

This principle cuts both ways. If we sow to the flesh—if we give ourselves over to sin, selfishness, and worldly desires—our harvest will be corruption. Sin never produces lasting joy or peace, only emptiness and destruction. On the other hand, if we sow to the Spirit—by walking in obedience to God, by planting seeds of prayer, kindness, generosity, and holiness—we will reap life everlasting. The fruit of such a life will not only be eternal rewards, but also a deep and abiding joy in the present.

Yet Paul knew this work would not be easy. He reminds believers not to “be weary in well doing.” Farming is tiring work, and spiritual farming is no different. There are seasons when we may feel like our prayers are not answered, our service goes unnoticed, and our sacrifices are wasted. But the Lord assures us that in “due season” we will reap if we do not faint. The harvest may not come immediately, but it will come, and it will be worth every tear and every effort.

This truth should give us both comfort and caution. Comfort, because God sees every good seed we plant in His name, even if no one else notices. Caution, because every sinful thought, every selfish action, and every neglected duty also carries consequences. The law of the harvest works whether we pay attention to it or not. That is why Paul begins with the sobering reminder: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked.”

Today, consider what kind of seeds you are sowing. Are your thoughts, words, and actions planting for the Spirit or for the flesh? The harvest of your future is being determined by what you plant today. May we live wisely, sow abundantly to the Spirit, and trust God to bring forth a harvest that glorifies Him.