The LORD God is the Creator of the ends of the earth. He has established laws in nature which govern all the processes of life–planting, growth, cultivation and harvest. These principles give us insight on how to conduct our lives, families, churches, and societies (to continue reading this essay, click on image above).
The Harvest of Peace: Reaping What We Sow, Gal. 5:16-26
Spiritual transformation operates according to God’s unchanging principle of cultivation. We who desire spiritual fruit must sow to the Spirit which in turn will inevitably manifest its abundance in our lives and relationships. Just as a farmer who tends good soil and plants quality seeds can expect a bountiful harvest, believers who deliberately walk by the Spirit create the conditions for peace to flourish in every dimension of their existence. We must reject fleshly inclinations and patterns, putting such ways to death through our identification with Christ’s crucifixion—and keep in step with the Spirit’s leading in daily choices and attitudes. Let us examine whether our thoughts, words, and actions are producing the Spirit’s fruit of peace or the fleshly works of discord, asking God to help us align our thoughts and deeds with the Spirit’s work in our lives.
Our Focus Today
God’s Decisive Uprooting, Gal. 5:24
Those “who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires,” making the fundamental choice to uproot the weeds of self-centered living that interfere with the Spirit’s working in and through us.
Invocation
Heavenly Father, thank you for the truth that I have been made one with Christ in his death and resurrection. Help me better to know the profound reality that my flesh has already been dealt with decisively through our union with him. Open my mind to see that this is not some future goal to achieve but a present reality for me to embrace and to affirm. Grant me the wisdom to live from this accomplished work rather than in my own strength striving to accomplish what you already finished through Christ’s death and resurrection for us all. Amen.
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, amen.
Chronological Scripture Readings for Today
These Scriptures allow us to read through the entire Bible in one year in chronological order.
Friday: Mark 13.1-31; Matt. 24.1-35; Luke 21.5-33
Psalms and Proverb for Today
These Scriptures allow us to read through the Psalms and Proverbs each month.
Friday: Psalm 26, 56, 86, 116, 146 and Proverbs 26
God’s Decisive Uprooting, Gal. 5:24
Those “who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires,” making the fundamental choice to uproot the weeds of self-centered living that interfere with the Spirit’s working in and through us.
Reflection
The Scriptures declare that believers are united to Christ, in both his death and in his resurrection. Our flesh (sin nature) has been crucified with Christ; this is not a something that believers accomplish but a completed spiritual reality that occurred when they were united with Christ in His death. We are one with Christ, and that oneness continues to have ongoing effects, including our victory over fleshly behavior. Fleshly “passions and desires” that drive such actions have been dealt with at the heart level, so that godly living is possible now, by faith. Believers must learn to live in the light of what has already been accomplished for them in Christ, constantly affirming our identity as those who belong to Christ and whose flesh has been crucified. Walking thus by faith, we can then trust the Holy Spirit to manifest this reality in our daily choices and circumstances.
Engaging God’s Word Today
Since the Scriptures declare that you have already crucified the flesh with its passions and desires through your union with Christ, where do you need to more fully embrace this truth? How can you begin to live from this completed reality rather than struggling as though the victory still needs to be won?
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, The Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Begotten Son of God,
Begotten of the Father before all ages,
God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God,
Begotten not created, of the same essence as the Father,
through Whom all things were made.
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became human.
Who for us too, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried.
The third day He rose again according to the Scriptures, ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and His kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and life-giver,
Who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
Who together with the Father and Son is worshiped and glorified.
Who spoke by the prophets.
We believe in one holy, catholic, and apostolic church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sin,
and we look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the age to come. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Benediction
Lord Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior, thank you that I have been united to you in your death, burial, and resurrection. Forgive me for doubting this; strengthen me to live daily rooted in this truth, that my flesh has been crucified and that it no longer has authority over my life. You accomplished the work and did what needed to be done. Now, show me how to trust the Holy Spirit to manifest this victory in every area of my life where fleshly patterns once held sway. I am yours and you are mine, and my flesh has been crucified. I am free in you, so help me to show forth that fruitful living that glorifies God and blesses others. Amen.
Scripture Memory for this season
James 1.2-4 (ESV): Perseverance through Faith
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
Scripture Engagement
As disciples of Jesus, the Churches of Christ the King strongly seek to engage the Scriptures to discover the centrality of Christ and his Kingdom in the prophetic and apostolic writings. You will find a rich treasure of resources on engaging Scripture at the Center for Scripture Engagement of Taylor University.
Book Reading
• As A Man Thinketh, James Allen (during seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany)
• The Way of the Heart, Henri Nouwen (during seasons of Holy Week, Lent and Resurrection)
• Atomic Habits, James Clear (during seasons of Ascension and Coming of Holy Spirit)
• The Seven Laws of the Harvest, John Lawrence (during seasons of Headship and Harvest)
• Get Your Pretense On!, Dr. Don Davis (during the seasons of Hope and Remembering the Saints, Exalting the King)
Book Reading Reflection: The Seven Laws of the Harvest
(Reading “The Seven Laws of the Harvest” during seasons of Headship and Harvest)
Law #6: We reap the full harvest of the good only if we persevere: the evil comes to harvest on its own.
Everyone who tills the ground knows that a vegetable garden cannot be planted and then forgotten. If it is, very little will come from the planting. What a garden requires is much labor and work in order to reap an abundant harvest. In God’s program of things, this is not true of the weeds. When the thorn and briar seeds are sown, they have the ability to come to a harvest on their own without anyone doing a thing.
Now, what is true in the spiritual realm is true also in the spiritual realm. The only way we will enjoy the blessings of a full harvest of the good things sown is to persevere and not faint. Once the evil is sown, however, it comes to fruition on its own; but the good will never produce an abundant harvest without constant attention. What this is saying, then, is that there are going to be problems and difficulties; and we can expect them and depend on upon them. Even though we sow to the Spirit (Galatians 6:8), this does not mean that there will not be opposition. Somehow, we have the feeling that if we do things right, there should be no problems. This is not so. Even the Son of Man who sowed the good seeds had an enemy come along behind and so tears (Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43). If this happened for him, how can we expect less? Whenever the Saints say, “Let’s rise up and build!”, the enemy will be right behind to rise up and oppose. Whenever there is a great door and ineffectual open to us, there will right along with it be many adversaries (1 Cor. 16:9).
~ Lawrence, John W. The Seven Laws of the Harvest. Kregal Publications, Grand Rapids, MI, 1975, 1995, p. 86.
Seedling Focus for the Season: Perseverance through Trials
Description: Storms may bend or break the branches, but they also strengthen the roots, James 1:2-4.
On Eagles Wings Prayer Focus: A Long Time Comin‘
Sowing Generosity: Overcoming Stinginess, 2 Cor. 9:1-15.
Visit our Church App for more information: Scan the QR Code below (if you have difficulty loading the app, click here for instructions how to get the app on your iPhone or Android)
