25 lines
4.3 KiB
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25 lines
4.3 KiB
HTML
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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<div class="head">Day By Day By Grace</div>
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<div class="subhead">Bob Hoekstra</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020">February 29</div></div>
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<h2>More on the Crucial Choice: Flesh or Spirit</h2>
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<div class="block"><i>Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for <b>whatever</b> a man <b>sows</b>, <b>that</b> he will also <b>reap</b>. For he who <b>sows</b> to his <b>flesh</b> will of the flesh reap <b>corruption</b>, but he who <b>sows</b> to the <b>Spirit</b> will of the Spirit reap <b>everlasting life</b>.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Gal',6,7,8);">Galatians 6:7-8</a>)</div>
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<p>One of the unchangeable aspects of life is that God offers only two choices for all the issues that we will encounter day by day; namely, <i>"<b>live</b> according to the <b>flesh</b>"</i> or <i>"<b>live</b> according to the <b>Spirit</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rom',8,5);">Romans 8:5</a>). Also, the consequences accompanying these options are inevitable, because of the certainties of sowing and reaping. <i>"<b>Whatever</b> a man <b>sows</b>, <b>that</b> he will also <b>reap</b>."</i> When an apple seed is planted, an apple tree is the only possible plant that can result. Whatever category of seed is put into the ground, that is the only type of crop that can ever be reaped.</p>
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<p>Our present passage reveals that these agricultural absolutes apply just as certainly to the planting of spiritual seeds in our lives. We only have two types of seeds to plant (<i>"<b>flesh</b>"</i> or <i>"<b>Spirit</b>"</i>), leading to only two types of harvest (<i>"<b>corruption</b>"</i> or <i>"<b>everlasting life</b>"</i>).</p>
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<p>The first set of seeds and harvest offers an <b>ominous warning</b>. <i>"He who sows to his <b>flesh</b> will of the flesh reap <b>corruption</b>."</i> The seeds in view here are words, deeds, and attitudes that would range from <b>self</b>-service to <b>self</b>-sufficiency. The harvest predicted from these carnal seeds is described as <i>"<b>corruption</b>."</i> This speaks of destruction and decay. For a person whose entire life is only characterized by sowing <i>"to his <b>flesh</b>,"</i> this destruction would be eternal. This would depict one who never planted any seed of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Such a one would die in sin and guilt, separated from God for eternity. For a born-again believer, who persistently or intermittently yields to carnal temptations, this would warn of subsequent loss of spiritual vitality and fruitfulness on earth now, plus loss of heavenly blessings later.</p>
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<p>The second set of seeds and harvest extends an <b>encouraging expectation</b>. <i>"But he who <b>sows</b> to the <b>Spirit</b> will of the Spirit reap <b>everlasting life</b>."</i> The seeds referred to here are words, deeds, and attitudes that result from humble dependence upon the <b>Spirit</b> of God to work in and through us. This brings an increasing spiritual crop described as <i>"<b>everlasting life</b>."</i> This would be similar to Jesus' statement: <i>"I have come that they may have <b>life</b>, and that they may have it more <b>abundantly</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn',10,10);">John 10:10</a>). This promises fullness of life now, and great rewards in glory later.</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">O merciful Father, I humbly repent of the innumerable occasions when I sowed fleshly seeds in word and deed. The crop that resulted was always destructive. Thank You for cleansing through the blood of Christ. Now, Lord, by faith I ask You to bring forth through my life a new harvest of spiritual abundance, by Your Holy Spirit, Amen.</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020"><a href="./devotions/daybyday/02/0228.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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<a href="./devotions/daybyday/03/0301.html">Tomorrow's Reading</a>
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