Gratitude, far from being a sentimental notion, has emerged as a scientifically supported force capable of transforming the human brain and improving overall mental health.

Neuroscientific studies have shown that regularly practicing gratitude activates brain regions associated with moral cognition, emotional regulation, and reward, particularly the medial prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex (Zahn et al., 2009).

Notably, Dr. Alex Korb, in his book The Upward Spiral, describes how gratitude stimulates the release of dopamine and serotonin—two neurotransmitters vital for mood stabilization and happiness —making it a powerful natural antidepressant.

A growing body of evidence confirms that this effect is not fleeting: a study by the University of California, Berkeley, led by Joel Wong and Joshua Brown (2017), found that individuals who wrote gratitude letters showed significantly better mental health outcomes even 12 weeks after the exercise, regardless of whether the letters were sent.

In parallel, Emmons and McCullough (2003) demonstrated that individuals who kept a gratitude journal for just 10 weeks reported increased optimism, better sleep, and more physical activity.

Furthermore, gratitude has been shown to enhance the neural modulation of the prefrontal cortex, which reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety by strengthening pathways that suppress negative emotions.

According to McCraty & Childre (2004), gratitude also reduces cortisol levels—the primary stress hormone—improving cardiovascular health and emotional resilience. At the structural level, researchers like Zahn et al. (2014) have found that individuals who frequently feel gratitude show increased gray matter volume in the right inferior temporal gyrus, which plays a key role in interpreting social signals and emotional meaning.

As UCLA’s Mindfulness Awareness Research Center puts it, “Gratitude changes the neural structures of the brain,” reshaping how we perceive and engage with the world. ”

Ultimately, gratitude doesn’t just feel good—it rewires the brain toward greater emotional intelligence, social connection, and resilience, offering a neuropsychological foundation for a healthier and more fulfilling life.

NOT JUST SCIENCE, BIBLICAL AS WELL. ONE DAY SCIENCE WILL ALIGN ITSELF FULLY WITH CREATION!

Gratitude Transforms Anxiety into Peace Bible verses to help us through our daily life and life in General

Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Gratitude Shifts Perspective and Brings Joy

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Gratitude Leads to God’s Presence

Psalm 100:4
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”

Gratitude Transforms Hardship into Growth

James 1:2-4
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Gratitude Deepens Our Relationship with God

Colossians 3:16-17
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Gratitude Opens Our Eyes to God’s Blessings

Ephesians 5:20
“Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Gratitude Is an Act of Worship

Hebrews 12:28
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”

Gratitude Leads to Wholeness and Healing

Luke 17:15-19 (The healing of the ten lepers)
“One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him… Then he said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.'”

Gratitude in Scripture is often a catalyst for profound change. Below, the examples are organized by the type of transformation experienced – Emotional, Spiritual, Physical, and Social – with each verse or passage quoted and explained.

Emotional Transformation (Anxiety to Peace, Sadness to Joy)

• Philippians 4:6–7 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to Godbiblehub.com. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”biblehub.com. Transformation: A thankful posture in prayer turns anxiety into peace. Paul teaches that when we present our worries to God with gratitude, God’s transcendent peace will calm our hearts and mindsgotquestions.org. The act of thanking God, even as we petition Him, shifts our focus from troubles to trust, resulting in inner peace replacing fear.

• Psalm 30:11–12 – “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness… O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever”biblehub.combiblehub.com. Transformation: David expresses that God transformed his sadness into joy (“mourning into dancing”). In response, David’s heart overflows with thanksgiving. Gratitude here is both a reaction to God’s deliverance and a means of fully embracing joy. By vowing to thank God forever, David shows how thankfulness sustains the joy that replaced his sorrow. His praise-filled gratitude cements the emotional transformation from grief to rejoicing.

Spiritual Transformation (Deeper Faith and Relationship with God)

• Luke 17:15–19 – One of the ten lepers, after being healed, “turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks”biblehub.com. In response, “Jesus said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well’”biblehub.com. Transformation: Gratitude was central to this man’s spiritual healing. All ten were cured physically, but only the thankful Samaritan received Jesus’ affirmation of saving faith. His thankful return to praise Jesus indicated a heart change and deeper faith. Jesus implied that this man gained something more – a spiritual wholeness: “There was an extra healing for this tenth leper… The other lepers had whole bodies, but sick hearts.”enduringword.com In other words, his grateful faith not only cleansed his body but also brought salvation and a restored relationship with God, whereas the others missed that deeper transformation.

• Colossians 2:6–7 – “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”askaboutmyfaith.com Transformation: Thankfulness is portrayed as a byproduct of and catalyst for spiritual growth. As believers deepen their roots in Christ, their faith grows stronger and is marked by abundant gratitudeaskaboutmyfaith.com. This suggests that practicing thankfulness reinforces our faith. A grateful heart keeps us mindful of God’s goodness and sovereignty, drawing us into a closer walk with God. Thus, gratitude leads to a transformed spiritual life – one of deeper faith, steadiness in Christ, and continual awareness of God’s presence.

• Psalm 50:23 – “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies Me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”biblehub.com. Transformation: Here God promises that a thankful worshiper will see salvation. Offering thanks honors God and “prepares his way so that I will show God’s salvation”biblehub.com. This implies that gratitude opens the heart to God’s saving work. In a spiritual sense, a grateful attitude “orders” our life correctly before God, leading to a greater experience of His salvation and deliverance. In sum, thankfulness paves the way for a transformed heart that knows God’s saving power more intimately.

Physical Transformation (Healing, Provision, Protection)

• John 6:11 – “Jesus then took the loaves, and when He had given thanks, He distributed them to those who were seated… so also the fish, as much as they wanted.”biblehub.com Transformation: Jesus demonstrates gratitude before the miracle of feeding the 5,000. His giving of thanks to God preceded the multiplication of the loaves and fish, providing abundant provision for the hungry crowd. This shows thankfulness leading to a tangible transformation of circumstances – from lack to plenty. The simple act of thanking God for the little they had invited God’s power to supply the physical needs of thousandsflbchurch.org. Our example is that faithful thanks, even in scarcity, can unleash God’s provision.

• Jonah 2:9–10 – “But I, with the voice of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You… Salvation comes from the Lord. And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.”biblehub.com Transformation: Inside the great fish, Jonah offered a prayer of grateful praise, even before his rescue: “With shouts of grateful praise, I will sacrifice to you… Salvation comes from the Lord”biblehub.com. Immediately after this thanksgiving proclamation, God delivered Jonah, commanding the fish to release him. Jonah’s gratitude in the darkest place preceded a dramatic physical deliverance from death. This illustrates how an attitude of thankfulness can invite God’s saving power into dire circumstances – turning near tragedy into rescue.

• Daniel 6:10, 22 – “[Daniel] got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.” (Daniel 6:10) Despite a royal ban on prayer, Daniel continued his habitual gratitude toward God. Later, after being thrown into the lions’ den, he emerged unharmed, declaring, “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me” (Daniel 6:22). Transformation: Daniel’s unwavering thankfulness brought about divine protection. His grateful prayers demonstrated trust in God above all, and God miraculously saved him from deadly lions. Even the pagan king recognized God’s power: “He rescues and He saves”thewriteconversation.blogspot.com. Thus, in Daniel’s story, thankfulness under trial led to a powerful transformation of impending death into deliverance – a testimony to God’s protective intervention.

• Acts 16:25–26 – “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God… and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.”flbchurch.org Transformation: In this instance of praise (an expression of gratitude) amid suffering, God intervened with a physical miracle. Paul and Silas’s thankful worship turned a prison into a place of freedom – literally opening doors and breaking chains. Their gratitude to God despite wounds and confinement led to an earthquake that transformed their situation from captivity to liberty. This not only freed them physically but also set the stage for the jailer’s conversion (a spiritual change), showing how thankfulness can trigger God’s power to heal, protect, and save.

Social Transformation (Reconciliation, Favor, Influence)

• Acts 27:35–36 – Facing a storm at sea, “Paul took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of all… then he broke it and began to eat. Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves.”biblehub.com Transformation: Paul’s public expression of gratitude during a crisis had a profound influence on those around him. His calm thankfulness to God for the meal (despite the impending shipwreck) lifted the others from despair to hope. All 276 passengers “took heart” and followed his example of eatingbiblehub.com. The social atmosphere on the ship shifted from panic to encouragement. Paul’s thankfulness instilled confidence that God would deliver them, demonstrating how one person’s grateful faith can positively transform a whole group’s outlook and unity.

• Acts 2:46–47 – In the early church, believers met together “with glad and sincere hearts, praising God,” and as a result they were “enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”biblehub.com Transformation: Corporate gratitude and praise produced a social impact in the community. The first Christians’ joyful, thankful worship fostered unity among themselves and earned them favor with outsiders. Their gratitude to God was contagious, drawing others to them. Scripture notes that this environment of praise and thankfulness led to continual growth of the church, as more people were being saved dailybiblehub.combiblehub.com. In other words, a culture of thankfulness in the community helped bring about reconciliation between individuals and God, and also gave the believers a positive reputation, transforming their social standing and influence in society.

• 2 Chronicles 20:21–22 – “Jehoshaphat appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise Him… As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the [enemy]… and they were defeated.” Transformation: Here praise and thanks became a “weapon” that led to a national victory and peace. Judah’s army marched into battle thanking God for His love, and God turned the enemies against each otherflbchurch.orgbiblehub.com. This brought deliverance without Judah fighting at all. The social/national transformation was twofold: fear gave way to faith among God’s people, and neighboring nations stood in awe. This example shows gratitude to God helping reconcile and unite a people, while also granting them favor and influence over surrounding nations who witnessed God’s power.

Each of these examples underscores a principle: thankfulness is often the key that unlocks God’s transformative work. Emotional turmoil gives way to joy and peace, faith is strengthened, physical needs are met or miracles occur, and even social situations are changed – all when people choose to “give thanks in all circumstances” as God’s will for us (1 Thessalonians 5:18). The Bible consistently demonstrates that a grateful heart isn’t just an appropriate response to God’s grace, but a powerful force that God uses to change lives and situations for the better.

Proverbs 30:3-4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down?

Resting in God’s Sovereign Power

“God’s sovereign hand” refers to the belief that God has ultimate authority and control over all things, and that His will is ultimately carried out in the world. It emphasizes God’s supreme power and ability to direct events, even those that may seem random or coincidental to humans. This concept is a central theme in Christian theology, where it is understood that God orchestrates every event according to His divine plan. 

“Sovereign” can refer to supreme power or authority, particularly in the context of a nation or ruler. It can also describe a person who holds that power, such as a king or queen, or a state that is independent and self-governing. The term also has roots in Old French and ultimately Latin, signifying “above” or “supreme”.

 

In the Hands of Sovereign God

Resting in God’s Sovereign Power

Life can often feel uncertain and chaotic. Plans fall apart, unexpected trials arise, and we sometimes find ourselves anxious about what the future holds. In those moments, one of the most comforting truths for a believer is the sovereignty of God. Scripture affirms that God is “supreme, all-powerful, and in control of all things,” even our most uncertain moments. In other words, nothing that happens in our lives catches God by surprise. He reigns over every detail—offering us deep assurance and hope “amidst uncertainty”. As God Himself declares in Isaiah, “My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish”. Because God is sovereign, we can find peace in uncertainty, receive assurance in trials, gain confidence in our purpose, and grow deeper in trust of His perfect plan. Let’s reflect on these blessings of His sovereign power in our lives.

Peace in Uncertainty

Uncertainty in life is something we all face, whether it’s waiting for test results, navigating job changes, or facing an unclear future. Naturally, not knowing what tomorrow holds can fill us with anxiety. But remembering God’s sovereign power brings an unexpected calm. We realize that while we don’t know the future, God already does. He rules over yesterday, today, and tomorrow, so we can rest knowing our unknowns are fully known to Him. The Bible encourages us, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. This kind of peace — beyond all understanding — comes when we entrust our worries to the God who is in control. Instead of being consumed by “what ifs,” we can pray and leave our concerns in His hands, confident that His sovereign love will carry us.

Even Jesus assured His followers of peace despite uncertain times. He said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you… Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). How can we experience such peace? By anchoring our hearts in the truth that God is on the throne. As the prophet Isaiah writes, “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3). When we choose to focus on God’s unchanging character instead of our changing circumstances, our fear is replaced with a quiet peace. We may not know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future, and that makes all the difference.

Assurance in Trials

When painful trials and suffering enter our lives, it’s easy to wonder if God is really in control. We might ask, “Why is this happening?” or “How can any good come from this?” Yet even in our hardest moments, God’s sovereignty offers assurance: He is still at work, and He can bring purpose out of our pain. Romans 8:28 promises us this comforting truth: “And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.”. All things – even the trials we don’t understand – are orchestrated by God for the ultimate good of His children. This doesn’t mean the trials themselves are good or easy, but it reassures us that God can redeem even the darkest circumstances for a good purpose. We can echo the confidence of the Apostle Paul, who endured many hardships yet remained certain that if God is for us, no one can truly be against us (Romans 8:31).

The Bible gives us real-life examples of this sovereign assurance in suffering. Joseph, for instance, was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, and unjustly imprisoned – years of hardship that seemed senseless at the time. But later, Joseph could look those same brothers in the eye and say, “As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to… preserve the lives of many people”. God’s sovereign hand had been guiding Joseph’s story all along. What others meant for harm, God turned to salvation – not only for Joseph, but for many. In our trials, we too can trust that God is weaving a greater story. Like a master weaver, He can take the tangled threads of pain and hardship and weave them into something eternally beautiful. Knowing this gives us assurance: our suffering is not meaningless, and we never suffer alone. The sovereign God who allowed the trial will also provide His strength and presence to carry us through it (Isaiah 43:2). In every trial, we can say with confidence that God is still God, and He is still good.

Confidence in Purpose

One of the great comforts of God’s sovereignty is that our lives are not accidents or afterthoughts. We have purpose because God intentionally created and placed us where we are. In seasons when we feel aimless or question our significance, His sovereign plan gives us confidence that we’re part of something much bigger. Scripture reminds us, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.” No matter how confusing our path gets or how many detours we take, God’s purposes for us will stand. He uniquely designed each of us with gifts and callings, and He knows exactly how our lives fit into His grand story. Ephesians 2:10 affirms that “we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand for us to do.” If God prepared works for us ahead of time, we can be confident He’ll lead us into them at the right time.

Consider Esther’s story in the Bible. A young Jewish woman, she found herself queen of Persia at a critical moment for her people. It wasn’t just coincidence or her own doing – it was God’s sovereign positioning. Her cousin Mordecai pointed this out, telling Esther that she had come to her royal position “for such a time as this”. Indeed, God used Esther to save an entire nation. In the same way, God has placed you where you are for a reason. You can have confidence that your life has meaning in His plan. Maybe you don’t see the full picture of it yet – often we don’t until later – but we trust that God doesn’t make mistakes. He knows the plans He has for you. As the Lord spoke to His people in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you… plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. Our Sovereign God intends good for His children. Even when your path seems unclear, you can move forward with confidence that God is guiding your steps and that your life’s purpose is safely held in His hands.

Deeper Trust in His Plan

Understanding God’s sovereignty invites us to take a deep breath and trust Him more fully. If God truly is in control of all things, then we don’t have to be. We can let go of the steering wheel of life, so to speak, and surrender our need to control every outcome. This doesn’t mean we become passive or stop making decisions; rather, it means we live with the reassurance that God is directing our steps. Proverbs 3:5-6 instructs us, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”. In a world where we often lean on our limited understanding, this is a gentle call to trust God’s greater understanding. He sees the end from the beginning. He knows why each twist in the road is necessary, even when we do not. As we acknowledge Him in every part of our lives, He faithfully leads us in the right direction.

Growing deeper in trust is a process, often learned over time. Each experience of God’s faithfulness becomes a stepping stone to greater faith. When we remember how God came through for us yesterday, it’s easier to trust Him with today and tomorrow. The Bible assures us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8) – the same sovereign Lord who cared for us in past trials will care for us now. Moreover, God’s sovereignty means that even when our path includes waiting or unexpected turns, we can trust His timing. He is never early, never late. His plan unfolds in perfect wisdom and love. Sometimes trusting God’s plan means accepting that we won’t have all the answers. Yet, because we know His character – His goodness, wisdom, and power – we can say, “Lord, I don’t know what You’re doing, but I trust that You do.” This kind of surrender is not easy, but it is incredibly freeing. We shift from a posture of worry to one of worship, from trying to figure everything out to resting in the fact that God already has. In that surrender, our relationship with God deepens. We come to know Him not just as a mighty King, but as a loving Father who is for us. The more we trust His sovereign plan, the more intimately we experience His heart and faithfulness.

Conclusion: Secure in His Sovereignty

In the end, reflecting on God’s sovereign power fills us with comfort and encouragement. The more we recognize His control over every aspect of our lives, the more our hearts can relax and find rest. Truly, the doctrine of God’s sovereignty gives believers “a profound sense of security and hope”. We realize that we are held by an all-powerful God whose plans for us are good. When uncertainty comes, we have peace knowing He’s still in charge. When trials arise, we have assurance that He’s working them for good. When we question our purpose, we find confidence that He’s guiding our calling. And as we see Him prove faithful again and again, we learn to trust Him with everything – our present, our future, our whole lives.

What a comfort to know that the same God who governs the stars also tenderly governs our stories! He is both King over the universe and Shepherd of our souls. Nothing is too large to fall outside His providence, and nothing is too small to escape His fatherly care. With Paul we can boldly say, “…neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future… nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God” (Romans 8:38-39) – for that loving God is sovereign over all.

Dear friend, whatever you are facing today, take heart: God’s got this. You can rest in His sovereign hands. May the truth of His supreme power and loving control be a firm foundation under your feet. As you go forward, let His sovereignty be your comfort in uncertainty, your hope in trial, your purpose in living, and your reason to trust Him more each day. He is faithful, He is good, and He is in control – yesterday, today, forever. Let that truth steady your soul and invite you into a deeper rest in Him. Amen.

Peace in Uncertainty

• Philippians 4:6-7 – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

• John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

• Isaiah 26:3 – “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”

Assurance in Trials

• Romans 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

• Romans 8:31 – “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

• Genesis 50:20 – “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”

• Isaiah 43:2 – “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.”

Confidence in Purpose

• Proverbs 19:21 – “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

• Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

• Esther 4:14 – “Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

• Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Deeper Trust in His Plan

• Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

• Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

• Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Secure in His Sovereignty

• Romans 8:38-39 – “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

• Isaiah 46:10 – “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all My purpose.’”

• Colossians 1:16-17 – “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible… all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”

May these scriptures deepen your understanding and appreciation of God’s sovereign power in your life!

Preparing Self (7:1-10)

Not only does his bloodline show him to be from the line of priests, but great descriptions are given about him. Look at verse 6. Ezra was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses. But the important declaration is made at the end of verse 6. The king of Persia granted all that Ezra asked because the hand of the Lord his God was on him. Ezra has determined to made the journey to Jerusalem and some other Israelites want to join him. Ezra safely makes the journey “for the good hand of his God was on him” (7:9). Now notice the reason for God being with Ezra. Look at verse 10.

For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel. (Ezra 7:10 ESV)

The NASB 2020 reads that Ezra firmly resolved to study the Law of the Lord. The CSB reads that Ezra determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord. The NIV reads that Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord. The NET reads that Ezra dedicated himself to the study of the law of the Lord. I want us to see this picture of Ezra. He devoted himself and dedicated himself to study God’s law, to do God’s law, and teach God’s law. Friends, is there a better decision you can make today? Is there a better thing to do with your time? Is there a better thing to devote yourself for?

I want you to notice that in this paragraph, verses 1-10, the text twice records that the good, gracious hand of God was on Ezra. Why was the good hand of God on him? Because Ezra had prepared himself for God. Ezra prepared himself. Ezra prepared his heart. Ezra prepared his life. Ezra gave himself to studying God’s law, to doing God’s law, and to teaching God’s law.

Looking For God’s Hand (7:11-28)

Verses 11-26 record a copy of the letter that the king of Persia gave to Ezra for his return to Jerusalem. The letter records a second exodus from Persia being authorized. Anyone of the people of Israel may freely go back to Jerusalem (7:13). The decree includes sending money and resources back with Ezra. Also the decree is made to the treasurer beyond the river to provide whatever the God of heaven needs (7:21-23). Ezra is authorized to appoint judges in the area to apply God’s law, requiring all of Israel to obey it. But I want us to see what Ezra says about this in verses 27-28.

Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem, and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the LORD my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me. (Ezra 7:27–28 ESV)

Ezra credits all of it to God. All of the success is given to God. Ezra recognizes that God has moved the heart of the king to send Ezra back to do the work. Ezra believed that the hand of the Lord was on him which gave him the courage to go to Jerusalem and do the work. What Ezra is able to do is look at the good things that were happening in his life and attribute them to the good hand of God. It is an interesting phenomenon that we go through. When things go bad, we are often ready and willing to blame God for our difficulties. But when things go well, we are often ready and willing to credit ourselves and not God. We fail to see the good hand of God because we are not looking for it. Ezra does not credit himself. He does not think of himself as a great priest or great teacher or great student as the reason why the king has given him the ability to return to Jerusalem. Ezra recognizes that it is all God.

Preparing Others and Humbling Ourselves (8:1-36)

Ezra 8 opens by recording the number of people who returned with Ezra to Jerusalem (8:1-14). But Ezra observes a problem before they leave Persia in verse 15. None of the people who returned were Levites. So Ezra sends for the leaders of the people and tells them that they need servants for the house of God (8:17). You will notice again that Ezra completely depends on the Lord. In verse 18 he says that the gracious hand of God was on us and so Levites were brought out to go with the people to work at the temple in service to the Lord. Ezra calls the people to leave their comfort zones and leave their Persian lives to go do the work before them.

But the important way this all comes about it recorded in verses 21-23. Ezra proclaims a fast that they might humble themselves before their God. Ezra sees that there is a long journey ahead and a great work that needs to be accomplished. Before they can do anything and before they set out, they turn to the Lord. They humble themselves before the Lord through fasting and prayer. Now Ezra points out that there was a really important reason for needing God’s good hand. Look at what he says in verse 22. Ezra says that he did not want to ask the king for protection in their travels because he had proclaimed the goodness and righteousness of God to the king. He told the king this great truth:

The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.

Ezra is saying that he wanted to prove his faith in God before the king. He wanted to show the truth of his faith. God’s good hand will be on all who seek him and his wrath will be against all who forsake him. So verse 23 records that the people fasted and implored God for this and God listened. They believed God would provide. They believed that God would give them what they needed. They believed that if they devoted themselves to the work that God would be with them. It is a beautiful picture. Ezra says we need servants and God is going to be with us because we are devoting our lives to him. Our lives are in God’s hands. Ezra wanted all to see that God would take care of them.

I want you to think about how many times you have seen the good hand of God in this way. Have you ever told someone that God was going to take care of you? Have you ever told others that God would take care of them? But I do not mean in just a flippant way to say something encouraging. What I mean is in the way that Ezra does. Ezra humbles himself and looks to God in complete dependence before they make their journey, believing God will be with them. How many times have you seen God do this?

But let me flip the question the other direction. How many times have we done what Ezra did? How many times have we humbled ourselves before God, in complete poverty of spirit and recognition of God’s sovereign power, and asked for God’s help before going forward in a decision or direction in life? How many times have we even done this to start our day? Ezra is showing us that we will see the good hand of God when we humble ourselves before him in every aspect of our lives. Start your day humbling yourself before God. Humble yourself before making decisions. We show our humility when we seek God first for our day rather than only coming to him when we are in trouble.

The Good Hand of God

The repetition found in these two chapters is the good hand of God. There are three key principles that we have observed in these two chapters about the good hand of God. First, Ezra devoted himself to studying God’s law, doing God’s law, and teaching God’s law. If we want to see the good hand of God, we must devote ourselves to God. Why would expect to see the good hand of God and experience in our lives when we devote ourselves to so many things other than studying, doing, and teaching God’s word?

Second, Ezra looked for the good hand of God and attributed all the good he experienced to God. Do we do this? Do we attribute all of our good to God’s hand or to our own hand? Paul reminded the Corinthians:

What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? (1 Corinthians 4:7 ESV)

What do we act like is because of ourselves and not received from God? Perhaps we have missed so many things in our lives that is God showing his good hand toward you. Look for the good hand of God actively working in your life.

Third, we need to humble ourselves to see the good hand of God. We must show that we are depending on God’s hand and not our own. Ezra had courage because he saw God’s hand at work. He did the work because he knew that God was with him. In the same way, God is with us if we will humble ourselves, devote ourselves to him, and look for God’s good hand. source

The sovereignty of God is the attribute of God that brings great comfort and assurance in the life of a believer.

To know God

The obligation of a believer is to know God. Paul said in Philippians 3:10-11 (ESV)

that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Paul knew God, but he still wanted to know God—knowing God is an ongoing process. Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV) says

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.

You and I cannot genuinely know God apart from His Word and the Holy Spirit. And friend, especially in the times we live right now, we need to make a priority in knowing God and His Word. If you do not know God, you cannot trust Him—no one can trust, obey, worship and serve an unknown God.

In the words of A. W. Pink

Something more than a theoretical knowledge of God is needed by us. God is only truly known in the soul as we yield ourselves to Him, submit to His authority, and regulate all the details of our lives by His holy percepts and commandments.

[Also, read Hosea 6:3, Daniel 11:32 and John 7:17]

The Sovereignty of God in the Bible 

What is the sovereignty of God? You can find many definitions for it but I want to share with you how A. W. Pink defines it

The sovereignty of God may be defined as the exercise of His supremacy. Being infinitely elevated above the highest creature, He is the Most High, Lord of heaven and earth. Subject to none, influenced by none, absolutely independent; God does as He pleases, only as He pleases, always as He pleases. None can thwart Him, none can hinder Him. 

(I love how Pink encompasses so many things about God in a short paragraph) Isaiah 46:10 (ESV) declares this truth so well

declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose

One can see a similar declaration in Ephesians 1:11 (ESV)

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will

Psalm 115:3 (ESV)

Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.

Psalm 135:6 (ESV)

Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.

I believe the Bible is straightforward about the sovereignty of God.

The first thing any believer should know about God

I believe that when we teach others about God, this should be the first thing we tell them after the gospel—that God is sovereign and that the sovereignty of God is limitless. Spurgeon said it so well

There is no attribute more comforting to His children than that of God’s Sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that Sovereignty has ordained their afflictions, that Sovereignty overrules them, and that Sovereignty will sanctify them all. On the other hand, there is no doctrine more hated by worldings, no truth of which they have made such football, as the great, stupendous, but yet most certain doctrine of the Sovereignty of the infinite Jehovah. Men will allow God to be everywhere except on His throne. 

I believe this is so true. Many people of this world have no problem with God being the Creator of the stars, or the One who blesses the earth with rain and with warmth. But most of the unbelievers hate when we proclaim an enthroned God who does all that he pleases (Psalm 115:3).

Now is the time to declare more than ever the sovereignty of God over all the world. He knows what He’s doing, He knows what He allows to happen on the earth. Storms, lightnings, earthquakes, hurricanes, fires, wars, world hunger, the fall of the stock markets or Covid-19—nothing takes our God by surprise. God is where He’s always been—on His throne.

Mankind is not God

The people of this world do not love a God on the throne. Mankind loves to be in control but they are not—God proves to us again and again that we, men, are not in control. Moreover, mankind, in general, hates to lose control or give up control to a God they do not know. They hate the fact God does not ask their opinions and counsel on how to rule the Universe. So, mankind tried to remove God from His throne and rule their lives as they wanted as they pleased—men without Yeshua think they are little gods. When, in fact, there is only One God—and that God is not you and I.

Friend, take comfort in the fact  that whatever happens right now in your house, family, church, city or country—God is on His throne and in control of all things. Satan is not sovereign, men are not sovereign, your problems are not sovereign, but God is the Sovereign God.

Nevertheless, the sovereignty of God does not cancel human responsibility. We need a godly balanced view over the sovereignty of God and the world situation. Pink said it so well:

[God is] unrivalled in majesty, unlimited in power, unaffected by anything outside Himself. But we are living in a day when even the most orthodox seem afraid to admit the proper Godhood of God. They say that to press the sovereignty of God excludes human responsibility, whereas human responsibility is based upon Divine sovereignty, and is the product of it. 

One can see the sovereignty of God over angels and men

God created the angels—they are created beings, like the humans beings. The angels which sinned (2 Peter 2:5) were God’s creation just as the angels who did not sin. God knows everything (1 John 3:20) and He foresaw that part of His angels would fall, out of their choice—God was not the Author of their fall but He knew what would take place.

Likewise, God was not the Author of Adam and Eve’s fall—I believe to say that is an error. From the text in Genesis 3:9-19 it’s crystal clear for me that God kept Adam responsible for his decision. Adam had the God-given liberty to eat from all trees in the garden, but he was commanded not to eat from one tree—the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16). God was on the throne when Adam sinned.

Often we hear people debating about God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. I think Pink nailed it when he said

Many have most foolishly said that it is quite impossible to show where Divine sovereignty ends and creature accountability begins. Here is where creature responsibility begins: in the sovereign ordination of the Creator. As to His sovereignty, there is not and never will be any ’end’ to it!

One can see the sovereignty of God over the world

In Psalm 29:10-11 (ESV) we read

The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!

God orchestrated the flood, and the flood was God’s will and plan. The sovereignty of God kept Noah—but do not disregard Noah’s part, because His obedience was crucial in his salvation (Hebrew 11:7). Obedience to God’s Word will save you and me from the chaos of this world.

See the connection in Psalm 29 between God sitting on His throne and strength and peace. To know who God is, to know the sovereignty of God over all creation, brings shalom and strength in a difficult circumstance. [Psalm 29 is my wife’s favorite Psalm]

One can see the sovereignty of God over Israel

God directed His people to go to Egypt, and at the right time God brought them out of slavery of Egypt. What happened to them was part of God’s plan—and no power of Egypt, Pharaoh and his armies or satan and the gods of Egypt could stop God’s plan. Moreover, one can see how perfectly God led His people throughout the Bible and history.

One can see the sovereignty of God in the life and ministry of Yeshua

Galatians 4:4 (ESV) 

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law

You see, Yeshua came into our world when the fullness of time had come—that means at the perfect time. Not a day early, not a day later. He came in the perfect context of history for God’s plan to be fulfilled, He was born in the precise family He was supposed to be born and in the perfect location. Do not miss the sovereignty of God in Yeshua’s life and ministry.

Everything Yeshua did was part of God’s sovereign plan. The cross—His betrayal, death, and resurrection was God’s sovereign plan.

Acts 2:23 (ESV)

this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 

It was a sovereign will that appointed Him, sovereign love that sent Him, sovereign authority that assigned Him His work. 

No wonder Paul declares in

Philippians 2:9-11 (ESV)

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus Christ is Lord means that Jesus is God. source

Bold As a Lion — Proverbs 28:1

The weight of guilt is a heavy burden to bear. It’s like a shadow that follows your every step, casting doubt and fear over even the simplest actions. But here’s the remarkable truth: when you anchor yourself in the unwavering love of God, courage springs forth like a beacon in the darkness. Here is a profound insight into the human condition:

The wicked flee when no one pursues,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.

— Proverbs 28:1 (NKJV)

A guilty conscience is a relentless pursuer, driving you to flee from imaginary threats, to avoid unseen eyes. It’s a cycle of unease that can leave you breathless. Yet, on the other side of the spectrum, stand those who find their courage in the assurance of God’s love. They are bold, unwavering, and lionhearted.

This courage isn’t an empty hologram with no substance. It’s a reflection of their identity as beloved children of God. It’s a product of understanding that God’s love isn’t contingent on their perfection, but on His unchanging character. It’s knowing that His grace is bigger than any mistake, His forgiveness more powerful than any guilt.

Being secure in God’s love doesn’t mean disregarding wrongdoing. Instead, it’s about understanding that His love has the power to transform and redeem. It’s a love that invites us to confront our mistakes with humility, confident that His mercy stands ready to embrace us.

So, how do you find the courage to stand strong in the face of guilt and fear? By immersing yourself in the truth of God’s love. When you grasp the depth of His affection for you, guilt loses its grip. When you realize that you’re covered by His grace, fear diminishes.

When guilt comes knocking, remember that you are in Christ and now have His righteousness. Choose to be bold as a lion, not because of your own strength, but because you’re rooted in the unshakable love of God. Your courage doesn’t arise from your perfection. It springs forth from His love that never wavers, even in the face of your imperfections. source

What does Proverbs 28:1 mean?

This proverb notes one tendency of a guilty conscience: to be defensive even without an accusation. A person who knows they are at fault for something—or believes as much—may become excessive in attempts to clear their name. A related series of English expressions are variations of the phrase, “you protest too much,” adapted from Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet. These are used when another person’s claims of innocence seem insincere and overdone, to the point of suggesting guilt, instead.

Here, Solomon (Proverbs 25:1) depicts morally guilty persons as paranoid, because of their conscience. Their sinful lifestyle leads them to assume that consequences are always just around the corner. In this imagery, they are like criminals who run from law officers who aren’t even aware a crime has happened. In spiritual application, this attempt to “flee” from accountability is a common human response to God. When Jonah refused to obey God, he boarded a ship that was bound for a destination as far from Nineveh as possible (Jonah 1:1–3). When God rains down wrath on the wicked in the tribulation period, world leaders will try to hide from God. They will wish for landslides to hide them from His anger (Revelation 6:15–17).

By contrast, those with a clear conscience (Acts 24:16; Hebrews 13:18) have no such fears. Lions, in most circumstances, fear no predators or hostile enemies. They proceed with confidence and assurance, lacking fear: they are “bold.” The person who does right can rest assured that God will vindicate them in the end (1 Peter 3:16). Just as false guilt exists, so too can a person lack conviction for sin (Matthew 24:38–39; Acts 3:17). Lack of conviction is not a perfect test for righteousness (1 Corinthians 4:4). Yet peace is a genuine benefit of personal integrity (Psalm 4:8; Proverbs 10:9). source

Devotional Thoughts

By Jim Cymbala

King David wanted to build the temple in Jerusalem and create a magnificent building for God, but the Lord told him that he would not be the one to do it. Instead, the Lord chose his son Solomon. All the officials of Israel gathered in Jerusalem and David announced God’s plan. “[God] said to me: ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts’” (1 Chronicles 28:6).

God’s choice was clear. Seems simple, right? David had already received the building plans from God himself and collected most of the needed materials. All Solomon had to do was start. But right there is so often the place of failure. David understood the challenge facing his son. Throughout the chapter we find him encouraging Solomon: “Be strong and do the work” (v. 10). And “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished” (v. 20).

Despite the fact that Solomon was God’s choice and that he had complete instructions and all of the needed materials, he still had to get past the fear that paralyzes us to inaction. The Message, a contemporary Bible translation, renders verse 10, “And do it!” No one is saying that there will not be opposition or problems, but it is through the Spirit’s impartation of faith and boldness that we can be brave and move ahead with the work God has called us to do.

God has called all of us to something. Jesus said about the moment he will return: “Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come” (Mark 13:33). But because of fear, we haven’t always gone out and done it.

The Holy Spirit is greater in power than our shyness or timidity and he is greater than our fear or rejection of failure. His power makes the weakest as bold as a lion (see Proverbs 28:1). source

Cross References

understanding God,  as humans it is a very hard thing to do. Faith is the key to our salvation. As a computer programmer I have made electronic worlds that  have characters that have no idea I the programmer exist.  It was this way of life that led me to understand the idea of God. He is the creator, the programmer.  We must come onto knowledge of him through experience and faith.

As long as you can comprehend how a video game, its world, its characters, its physics are not knowledgable a programmer designed that game world.  Without the programmer the game and its content do not exist, period!.  As this is.. So is God, outside of our understanding yet completely important to the  world in which he created.

Science has many truths and yet many lies within.

Periodic table gases cannot be made they are naturally occuring elements 1-92 on the Periodic table.  

What are Newton’s Laws of Motion?

1. An object at rest remains at rest, and an object in motion remains in motion at constant speed and in a straight line unless acted on by an unbalanced force.
2. The acceleration of an object depends on the mass of the object and the amount of force applied.
3. Whenever one object exerts a force on another object, the second object exerts an equal and opposite on the first.

now we take this science above and take the fake story of evolution….. Gases that cannot be made by man and occur naturally were just chilling in a glob waiting for an object like a meteor or asteroid to hit it causing the big bang theory, hence the name theory (not proven)!

We then take PHYSICS LAWS which are not theories but proven.. no object like an asteriod or meteor could move without a force!

Science while being proven in some areas uses theory to disprove themselves while attempting to disprove our devine creaotor.

God Is . . . What?

Who is God? What is His nature? Is God one Being? Two? Three? Is God a family? What does Elohim mean, and does it speak of one or more than one Being?

Students of the Bible have searched for the answers to these questions for centuries. The answers are found in the revelation of the Bible, the only place where true knowledge of God, His plan and His ways is explained. The truth is simple—and astounding!

Questions about what God is have been debated—sometimes violently—since men began searching for Him. Obviously, we cannot see God, but if He has described Himself in the pages of the Bible, why should what He is be so difficult to fathom? Why argue about what the Bible says directly or implies in its terminology, visions, analogies and symbols? In answer to this latter question, our concept of God determines the depth of our relationship with Him and our grasp of His purpose for us (Isaiah 40).

Deuteronomy 29:29 says, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” The apostle Paul adds in I Corinthians 2:10-11 that God has revealed to us the mystery of His purpose by His Spirit.

Of course, Paul writes to converted people. Plainly, God does not hide Himself or what He is from those to whom He specifically reveals Himself and His Son (John 6:44; Matthew 11:27). So clear is God’s revelation of Himself that Paul says that even the unconverted can understand much about Him through observation of His creation.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in [to, margin] them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead [divine nature, margin]. (Romans 1:18-20)

Jesus’ own testimony shows He came to reveal the Father. When asked by Philip to show them the Father, He replies, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” (John 14:9). After combining Jesus’ revelation of the Father with revelations through the prophets and apostles, a clear picture emerges of what we need to know about God relative to salvation.

Is God a Trinity?

In His inspired revelation of Himself and His purpose, does God reveal Himself to be a trinity? Notice these quotations from a few authoritative sources (author’s emphasis throughout):

Though ‘trinity’ is a second-century term found nowhere in the Bible, and the Scriptures present no finished trinitarian statement, the NT does contain most of the building materials for later doctrine. (The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, “Trinity,” p. 914)

One does not find in the NT the trinitarian paradox of the coexistence of the Father, Son, and Spirit within a divine unity, the mystery of the three in one, yet one does find there the data that serve as the foundation of this later dogmatic formulation. [The Anchor Bible Dictionary, “God (NT),” p. 1055]

The new element is the historical Jesus, at once the representative of humanity and of God. As in philosophy, so now in theology, the easiest solution of the problem was the denial of one of its factors: and successively these efforts were made, until a solution was found in the doctrine of the Trinity, which satisfied both terms of the equation and became the fundamental creed of the church. Its moulds of thought are those of Greek philosophy, and into these were run the Jewish teachings. We have thus a peculiar combination—the religious doctrines of the Bible, as culminating in the person of Jesus, run through the forms of an alien philosophy. (The Encyclopedia Britannica, “Christianity,” 11th ed., vol. 6, p. 284)

The New Testament teaching upon this subject is not given in the way of formal statement. The formal statement, however, is legitimately and necessarily deduced from the Scriptures of the New Testament, and these, as has been suggested, cast a light backward upon the intimations of the Old. . . . It is admitted by all who thoughtfully deal with this subject that the Scripture revelation here leads us into the presence of a deep mystery. (Unger’s Bible Dictionary, “Trinity,” p. 1118)

These quotations admit that the idea of a trinity is at best deduced from Scripture, and these scholarly deductions are based on human and “alien” reasoning. What is wrong with the Bible’s own description of God? The problems arise when one tries to blend alien, human, philosophical thinking with the Bible’s own clear statements about God. To this odd mix is added man’s unwillingness to believe “the simplicity that is in Christ” (II Corinthians 11:3). Would a loving God inspire the Bible to be difficult for His people to understand?

The Bible Reveals God!

The content of the Bible is the revelation of God to the converted. Reveal means “to make known through divine inspiration; to make (something secret or hidden) publicly or generally known; to make manifest, expose to view, divulge.” Jesus says in Matthew 11:25, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.” What makes His statement especially interesting is that it is part of His response to a question asking who He was (verses 2-3).

His identity is plainly revealed in what He said about Himself. But the Jewish leadership rejected His teachings, while the humble, unlearned and simple accepted and believed it. Rather than denouncing true scholarship, Jesus emphasizes the attitude of the “babes.” Thus He condemns the leaders’ intellectual pride which led them to reject His clear revelation of God, in contrast to the “babes” whose humility enabled them to accept it.

In Genesis 1:26 Moses writes that man is created in God’s “image” and “likeness.” Any reliable lexicon mentions that “image” and “likeness” reinforce each other in a manner common to Hebrew. It means we are like God in form and implies that, like Him, we have a spiritual capacity and potential which animals do not have.

Genesis 2:24 shows that two human personalities—a husband and wife—can become one flesh. Why, then, can God not be one with two distinct personalities who work independently yet in complete harmony? Paul writes in I Corinthians 6:17, “But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” If a human can be one with God and remain entirely distinct, why cannot another spirit being with a separate personality be one with Him? John’s gospel proves this is possible in many passages.

The Physical Parallels the Spiritual

Another approach to this is through the Bible’s use of parables (Greek, parabole). Parable is closest in meaning to “similitude.” Generally, but not always, parables are introduced with the words, “The kingdom of God is like. . . .” In Hebrews 9:9 and 11:19, parabole is translated “figure,” “figurative” or “symbolic,” meaning a comparison is used to show parallels, so that from the human, temporal and material realm we may understand the eternal and spiritual reality.

Jesus consistently referred to God as “Father,” Himself as “Son” and whoever does the will of God as “brother,” “sister” or “mother” (Mark 3:35). Paul adds in Romans 8:14, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God,” and in verses 16, 17 and 19, he alternates between “children” and “sons.”

John says, “We are children of God; and . . . we shall be like Him” (I John 3:2), implying we will one day be more like Him than we are today, though even now we are in His image and likeness. Many more scriptures show this family parallel, but Ephesians 3:14-15 plainly summarizes this truth: “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” Already a Family exists in heaven—not the angelic family, but the Family in which we are sons and daughters! We are the part of that heavenly Family but still on the earth.

Jesus and the apostles use so many family parallels that the lesson is overwhelming. Do families consist of only one member? Of course not! Why would Jesus and the apostles even use such an analogy over and over if an honest parallel of kind between the human, physical family and a godly, spiritual one does not exist?

What Is Elohim?

The fourth word of the Bible is the first-mentioned name of God, elohim, and it acts almost as God’s signature, authenticating His authorship of the book. Appearing 2606 times, of which 2346 refer to God, elohim is also used of idols, men, angels and judges. Though its root means “to swear,” the concepts of might and authority are implied, and the biblical writers use it in the sense of “mighty ones” or “authorities.”

In form elohim is plural, but it is joined with singular verbs and adjectives in the Bible, indicating a body, group, class or family that contains more than one part. Herbert Armstrong coined the term “uniplural” to convey this meaning. We can easily see that angels, judges and idols are distinct, powerful bodies, groups, classes or families of beings with more than one personality within them. Why should the usage of elohim be any different when applied to God?

Webster’s Dictionary defines class as “a group of people of the same rank or status in a community; a comprehensive group of animals or plants.” It defines family as “a group consisting of parents and their children; a harmonious group bound together by common interests.”

“Family” need not be restricted to the sense of blood relationships. It can also be correctly used to designate a multi-member group, related by occupation, species, status, responsibility, kind, etc. It is in this sense that the Bible frequently uses elohim.

Angels are a family of created spirit beings, one kind. Judges are a group of individuals with common authority and responsibility. As Paul says, “There are many gods and many lords” (I Corinthians 8:5), false gods are a group—they fall into one category—because they share a common trait: They are all false.

Sometimes elohim is used with a singular pronoun. In All the Divine Names and Titles in the Bible, Herbert Lockyer writes:

Yet the word in this singular form is not full enough to set forth all that is intended. . . . It is a repository of truth concerning the Persons [plural] in the Godhead in the essential unity, and a mode of expressing the abundance and diversity of transcendent attributes combined in the Deity. (p. 6)

Dr. Parkhurst writes in his Hebrew Lexicon:

Elohim is plurality in unity. Accordingly Jehovah is at the beginning of Creation named Elohim, which implies that the divine Persons [plural] had sworn when they created.

Another way to understand the use of elohim in Scripture is by defining its Greek equivalent, theos. In the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, theos translates elohim. The King James Version translates both of these words as “God,” but both carry the more definitive meaning of “ruler.” Paul remarks that there are some people “whose god [theos, ruler] is their belly” (Philippians 3:19), clearly indicating a people ruled by their physical desires.

When applied to John 1:1-2, this definition becomes interesting: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” A literal translation begins to clear up any confusion: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with the God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with the God.” If we insert the words “Jesus” and “Ruler” into them, these verses become plain: “In the beginning was Jesus, and Jesus was with the Ruler, and Jesus was Ruler. He was in the beginning with the Ruler.”

This simple exercise shows two Beings, both of the same class (Ruler), both eternal, but One has greater authority than the Other. John is teaching us that Jesus Christ is our Ruler, but He also has a Ruler (the Ruler). I Corinthians 11:3 further confirms this: “The head of man is the Christ and the head of Christ is the God” (literal translation). Jesus Christ is the Lord (Owner, Ruler or Master) of man and God the Father is Lord of the Christ (cf. I Corinthians 15:23-28).

Since John 1:1-2 establishes Him as God, when Jesus told Mary Magdalene, “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God” (John 20:17), He plainly identifies two personalities of the class of Ruler. And to the greater of these He had to present Himself for acceptance.

Two Distinct Personalities

If this was all we had, we would already have strong evidence of God being a Family of individuals, living and working in harmony on a common plan toward a common goal. But there is much more! And, contrary to popular belief, it does not require a doctorate to understand—just normal intelligence.

As we have seen, John’s gospel begins, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God” (John 1:1-2). With means “used to indicate that two or more persons or things are together, near each other, in agreement, harmony etc.; in the company of; accompanied by.”

The next verse reads, “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” Paul expands this thought in Colossians 1:16:

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

These verses reveal the Word, who became Jesus Christ, as the agent of creation, performing the work necessary to carry it out. He is not only God but with another who is also God. “Through Him” implies that this other Being authorized the works of creation carried out by the Word. Does this not indicate two distinct personalities, both by inspiration called God, working in harmony to accomplish a work?

Psalm 45 is a Messianic prophecy:

You are fairer than the sons of men; grace is poured upon Your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever. Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One, with Your glory and Your majesty. And in Your majesty ride prosperously because of truth, humility, and righteousness; and Your right hand shall teach You awesome things. Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the King’s enemies; the peoples fall under You. Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions. (verses 2-7)

The word for “God” used once of the Messiah and later for the Messiah’s God, is elohim! Paul quotes this psalm in Hebrews 1:8-9 to prove that Jesus (“through whom also He made the worlds,” verse 2) is worthy of the worship of angels. To worship anything less than God breaks the first commandment! This shows Jesus to be God before and after His incarnation.

Philippians 2:6-7 adds more to our understanding of this:

[Jesus Christ], being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men.

J. B. Phillips renders it:

For he, who had always been God by nature, did not cling to his privileges as God’s equal, but stripped Himself of every advantage by consenting to be a slave by nature and being born a man.

James Moffatt translates:

Though he was divine by nature, he did not set store upon equality with God, but emptied himself by taking the nature of a servant; born in human guise and appearing in human form.

As in other scriptures, He was God, divine by nature, with—beside, accompanying—a different personality also called God!

A similar conclusion emerges in considering the subject of will. Jesus prays to His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). Does God have a multiple personality disorder? The best explanation is that two Beings with individual wills harmoniously coexist in one Family because One submits His will to the Other.

This also explains why Genesis 1:26 uses the plural pronouns “Us” and “Our” to refer to their antecedent elohim. Two divine personalities were working as one. They are equal in that both are God but not equal in authority, even as husband, wife and child are equal in their humanity but not equal in authority. Jesus says it Himself: “My Father is greater than I” (John 14:28).

Has Anyone Ever Seen God?

In John 8:58 Jesus identifies Himself as the “I AM.” Furthermore, He also says man has “neither heard His [the Father’s] voice at any time, nor seen His form” (John 5:37), and only Jesus Christ who came from God has seen the Father (John 6:46).

Is this a contradiction? Israel heard God speak the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1), and Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel saw the God of Israel (Exodus 24:9-11). Evidently, they ate a meal in His presence!

Adam and Eve walked and talked with God in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8-24). Abraham often talked with God (Genesis 15), and before the destruction of Sodom, he entertained Him at his tents (Genesis 18). He gave tithes to Melchizedek, whom Paul identifies as Christ (Genesis 14:18-20; Hebrews 7). Joshua saw Him before the children of Israel marched around Jericho (Joshua 5:13-15), and so forth.

If many have seen God, yet no one has seen God “at any time,” there can be only one conclusion: Two personalities make up the Godhead. They saw God, the One who became Jesus of Nazareth, not the other personality of the Godhead, called later “the Father.” Before Jesus’ ministry, Israel had only hints of the Father’s existence, for part of His mission was to declare the Father to His people (John 1:18; 17:25-26).

So too the “physical” relationship between the Father and Jesus Christ, the Son, illustrates their distinctiveness. Through the power of His Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35), God the Father impregnated Mary, and His Seed, Jesus, was called Immanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). He is called “the only begotten of the Father” (John 1:14). Since it is impossible for any being to father or beget himself, two separate Beings must be involved.

An additional point to consider is that the very hope of a Christian is in vain if Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead (I Corinthians 15:12-19). But we know He did rise (verses 3-4). Who resurrected Him, then, if not a distinct and separate Being?

The same reasoning holds true with His ascension. He told Mary Magdalene not to cling to Him, “for I have not yet ascended to My Father” (John 20:17). He could not ascend to Himself! And where did He go? To the third heaven to sit at His Father’s right hand (Hebrews 1:3)!

We Can Be One With Them!

The Bible is full of similar examples which clearly show God consisting of two Beings cooperating in family harmony. In John 17:20-22, part of Jesus’ prayer before His crucifixion, He prays that we would all be one with the Father as He and the Father are one. When He made that prayer, He and His Father were certainly distinct personalities, yet they were one. They are of one nature, one mind and one Family (Kingdom). They are elohim working in complete cooperation and harmony. And we have the awesome opportunity to be one with them as they are (Matthew 25:34; John 14:1-3)!

Christ’s prayer in John 17 implies that this oneness, at least its fullness, will occur when we inherit His Kingdom. Will we be enveloped in God and lose our personal identity? Revelation 3:12 says we will be given a new name. Names are given to things and people to establish personal identity or to distinguish one from another! Just as the Father and the Son are distinct personalities, so will we be.

Revelation 21:24 shows kings of nations, as part of the Kingdom of God, clearly identifiable as individuals. John saw nations, meaning he saw national characteristics in spirit-composed individuals inheriting the Kingdom of God and taking their place within the divine Family. Just as a child is distinguishable from his father, while sharing a family resemblance with him, we will enter the Family of God and retain our individuality.

The overwhelming evidence is that God is one (Deuteronomy 6:4), a Family at work fulfilling its purpose of bringing multiple billions into itself. What a tremendous burden will be lifted from all creation when God, by grace and awesome creative power, molds the division and conflict of man’s realm into the oneness of God!

by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023) source

WHO IS GOD?

Acts 2:37-39

(37) Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (38) Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (39) For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

God gradually unfolds before us what the conditions for conversion are. Layer upon layer of truth, or revelation, is needed to get the fullness of a subject.

Here are the conditions: We have to be called (John 6:44). We have to repent. We have to believe the gospel. We have to believe in Jesus Christ. We have to begin obeying God, because God gives His Spirit to those who obey Him (John 14:15-18; Acts 5:32). We have to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. We also have to have hands laid on us (Acts 8:14-17).

This should help us to understand that the “writing of the law on our hearts” (Hebrews 8:10) is a cooperative effort. It is not something done only by God, but it absolutely requires what God does. It also requires that we do something. When a person does these things, he is meeting the terms of the New Covenant – not all of them yet.

Were there terms like this in the Old Covenant? No. What a difference exists between the two! It is no wonder that the Old Covenant is becoming obsolete (Hebrews 8:13). It is no wonder the Old Covenant could not be kept (Hebrews 8:7). There is such a flaw, a fault, in every one of us (Hebrews 8:8). God knew this when He made the Old Covenant with Israel. Since God is love, He left us an example of how much the New Covenant means to us, so that we could look back on history and understand what awesome gifts have been given to us. By that, He hopes to create within us a deep sense of thanksgiving and of obligation.

— John W. Ritenbaugh

Ecclesiastes 3:1

To every [thing there is] a season
A set determined time, when everything shall come into being, how long it shall continue, and in what circumstances; all things that have been, are, or shall be, were foreordained by God, and he has determined the times before appointed for their being, duration, and end; which times and seasons he has in his own power: there was a determined time for the whole universe, and for all persons and things in it; a settled fixed moment for the world to come into being; for it did not exist from everlasting, nor of itself, nor was formed by the fortuitous concourse of atoms, but by the wisdom and power of God; nor could it exist sooner or later than it did; it appeared when it was the will of God it should; in the beginning he created it, and he has fixed the time of its duration and end; for it shall not continue always, but have an end, which when it will be, he only knows: so there is a determined time for the rise, height, and declension of states and kingdoms in it; as of lesser ones, so of the four great monarchies; and for all the distinct periods and ages of the world; and for each of the seasons of the year throughout all ages; for the state of the church in it, whether in suffering or flourishing circumstances; for the treading down of the holy city; for the prophesying, slaying, and rising of the witnesses; for the reign and ruin of antichrist; for the reign of Christ on earth, and for his second coming to judgment, though of that day and hour knows no man: and as there is a set time in the counsels and providence of God for these more important events, so for every thing of a lesser nature; and a time to every purpose under the heaven;
to every purpose of man that is carried into execution; for some are not, they are superseded by the counsel of God; some obstruction or another is thrown in the way of them, so that they cannot take place; God withdraws men from them by affliction or death, when their purposes are broken; or by some other way; and what are executed he appoints a time for them, and overrules them to answer some ends of his own; for things the most contingent, free, and voluntary, fall under the direction and providence of God. And there is a time for every purpose of his own; all things done in the world are according to his purposes, which are within himself wisely formed, and are eternal and unfrustrable; and there is a time fixed for the execution of them, for every purpose respecting all natural and civil things in providence; and for every purpose of his grace, relating to the redemption of his people, the effectual calling of them, and the bringing them to eternal glory; which are the things that God wills, that he takes delight and pleasure in, as the word ^F5 signifies. The Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions render it, “to everything under the heaven there is a time”; and Jarchi observes that in the Misnic language the word used so signifies. The Targum is,

“to every man a time shall come, and a season to every business under heaven.”

INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIASTES 3

The general design of this chapter is to confirm what is before observed, the vanity and inconstancy of all things; the frailty of man, and changes respecting him; his fruitless toil and labour in all his works; that it is best to be content with present things, and cheerful in them, and thankful for them; that all comes from the hand of God; that such good men, who have not at present that joy that others have, may have it, since there is a time for it; and that sinners should not please themselves with riches gathered by them, since they may be soon taken from them, for there is a time for everything, Ec 3:1; of which there is an induction of particulars, Ec 3:2-8; so that though every thing is certain with God, nothing is certain with men, nor to be depended on, nor can happiness be placed therein; there is no striving against the providence of God, nor altering the course of things; the labour of man is unprofitable, and his travail affliction and vexation, Ec 3:9,10; and though all God’s works are beautiful in their season, they are unsearchable to man, Ec 3:11; wherefore it is best cheerfully to enjoy the present good things of life, Ec 3:12,13; and be content; for the will and ways and works of God are unalterable, permanent, and perfect, Ec 3:14,15; and though wicked men may abuse the power reposed in them, and pervert public justice, they will be called to an account for it in the general judgment, for which there is a time set, Ec 3:16,17; and yet, such is the stupidity of the generality of men, that they have no more sense of death and judgment than the brutes, and live and die like them, Ec 3:18-21; wherefore it is best of all to make a right use of power and riches, or what God has given to men, for their own good and that of others, since they know not what shall be after them, Ec 3:22.

Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.

Paul has been encouraging Christians to live a life marked by the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:19–25), and to support each other in the struggles of life (Galatians 6:1–5). Christianity is all about the grace of God. He gives us good things which we could never have earned on our own. In our sin, we deserve death and suffering. Instead, in Christ, God gives us life and purpose.

Still, as Paul states clearly in this verse, the grace of God does not eliminate the principles of choice and consequence. In this life, our decisions will bring with them natural results. We must not lie to ourselves, that because of God’s grace and forgiveness of our sins, we will not suffer any harm if we continue to choose sin. To believe such a thing is to mock God, to make light of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sin on the cross.

What we do in this life does matter, beyond even the question of whether or not we will see heaven. In eternity, our choices will be reflected in our heavenly rewards, for those who are saved (1 Corinthians 3:12–15; 2 Corinthians 5:10), or our eternal punishment, for those who are not (Revelation 20:11–14).

Until then, the “crop” we produce between now and the moment of our death is also determined by the “seeds” we plant along the way. God’s natural laws of cause and effect still apply, to believers and unbelievers alike. Paul will expand on this idea in the following verses. source

What does it mean that a man reaps what he sows (Galatians 6:7)?

In the first few verses of Galatians 6, Paul emphasizes that individuals are responsible for their actions and should be gentle when others fail (Galatians 6:1). Besides gentleness being an expression of love and a fulfillment of the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2), a gentle response to others is one way we can keep ourselves out of trouble, because it can help us to avoid being hyper-critical. Even as the passage encourages readers to be considerate of others, the truth remains that whatever a man sows that he also reaps (Galatians 6:7). So, while we should bear each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), we are still accountable to carry our own load (Galatians 6:5).

In Galatians 6:7 Paul reminds readers that “whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (NKJV). God is a just God and has instituted throughout human experience the concept of sowing and reaping. When a farmer plants seeds and cares for those seeds, they will usually sprout and produce growth. In the same way, whatever a person “plants” in his own thinking and behavior will later bear fruit—either good or bad. If a person is focused on fulfilling the desires of the flesh, and that is what he invests in, then that person will reap fruit of that investment. Paul describes this fruit in Galatians 5:19–21, and the list is not pretty. On the other hand, if one invests in spiritual things, then the “fruit” in his life will be spiritual and wholesome (Galatians 6:8). Paul explains how the Holy Spirit produces fruit in people and what it looks like (Galatians 5:22–23).

Paul introduces the truth that a what a man sows that he also reaps with a somber warning: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked” (Galatians 6:7). Wise readers will take heed to their own lives and take steps to ensure they live according to this principle. Let no one entertain the idea that he or she is the exception to the rule. Reaping follows sowing, and it matters what you sow. God searches the heart and knows every circumstance, and His decree that the harvest will match the planting will not be set aside.

Elsewhere, Paul further explains the concept that whatever a man sows that he also reaps. In 1 Corinthians 3:8 he asserts that each person will be rewarded according to his or her own work. Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters are the most significant factors in the equation, because God causes the growth (1 Corinthians 3:7–8). So, even when we are planting and watering well—focusing on the things related to our new life in Christ—it is still God who causes the growth. And even though God rewards the one who works, we understand that even our opportunity to work is a gift from God. In other words, the principle that whatever a man sows that he also reaps teaches both God’s justice and His mercy.

We can apply the principle of reaping what we sow to the matter of salvation. If we do not know Jesus Christ as our Savior, then we are still dead in our sin, or separated from having a right relationship with God (see Ephesians 2:1–5). If we are in that state, then even our righteous deeds are as unclean rags in comparison with God’s standard of righteousness (Isaiah 64:6). If we are in that condition, then the truth that whatever a man sows that he also reaps (Galatians 6:7) is actually terrifying because we are sowing according to sin and death, and the fruit will reflect that. On the other hand, if in His mercy God has made us alive together with Christ by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–10), then we have the opportunity to sow according to newness of life. Because of His grace we can now invest in things that have eternal value and see fruit that also has eternal value. The fact that whatever a man sows that he also reaps is not only about justice, but about God’s magnificent mercy. God hasn’t given us what we deserved; in His amazing grace God has given us what we did not deserve—the opportunity to sow the seed of righteousness so that we can see the fruit of His righteousness in our lives. source

Theme: We should keep fervent in doing good, because God promises a harvest in due time.

(Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version; copyright 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc.)

One of the most fiery letters in all of the New Testament is the little book of Galatians. In it, the apostle Paul throws all his authority, logical force, and emotional power into defending the vital doctrine of ‘justification by faith’—that is, that fallen people are not made righteous in the sight of God on the basis of their good works, but on the basis of God’s grace through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ alone. Because of the importance of what it was Paul was defending, it’s a letter that contains some of his strongest words of rebuke toward those who were relying on their own good works to make them right before God.

But the letter isn’t all harsh. After stressing that good works are not to be seen as the basis of our salvation in Christ, Paul also goes on to stress that good works are to be seen as the natural outflow of our salvation in Christ. And so, it’s also a letter that’s filled with great encouragement to us as followers of Jesus.

One of those very important ‘encouraging’ portions of Paul’s letter of the Galatians—a portion that seems to start off harshly, but that definitely ends on a high note—is found in 6:7-10. The apostle Paul wrote to his brothers and sisters in Christ and told them;

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 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. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith (Galatians 6:7-10)

I’ve been thinking much about this passage lately. I’ve grown increasingly impressed with the wonderful people God has brought into our church family. I never cease to be delighted with the talent and skills that are represented in this place. And I’ve been thrilled to discover ways that the individual members of our church are serving one another behind the scenes.

The Bible tells us, in another of Paul’s letters, that we are a “body” for whom Jesus Christ Himself serves as the “head”. It tells us that Jesus himself—through the ministry of the Holy Spirit—has formed us together as individual members of a body that, “joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:16). The body causes the growth of the body—when every part of the body does its share. And I want you to know that I see increasing numbers of us rising up within this church family, and serving together in the ways that He has gifted us. It’s truly exciting; and I pray that more and more of us will do so at the Holy Spirit’s call.

And it’s in the spirit of protecting that wonderful increase of happy service to the Lord Jesus that I’m calling your attention to this morning’s passage.

* * * * * * * * * *

There is a danger—if we’re not careful to protect ourselves from it—of becoming discouraged and disheartened in our work in the body today by losing our focus on the results that come in the future. Perhaps you’ve felt a little of that discouragement at some point or another.

Perhaps you yourself have said things like, “Nobody seems to notice what it is that I do around here. Nobody seems to care if it gets done or not. I have to do all the work by myself. And why do I keep doing it? It doesn’t seem to make any difference anyway. It doesn’t seem to change anything. Maybe I’ve made a mistake in thinking this was God’s will for me. Maybe He doesn’t even notice. Maybe He doesn’t even care. Maybe I should just quit. Maybe I should just leave.” And I want you to know, dear brother or sister, that if you have ever felt that way—or if you’re feeling that way right now—it’s not a small matter. It’s something that I believe should be taken very seriously; because it has the potential of robbing us of your vital part in the body.

I believe that, in this morning’s passage, the apostle Paul—writing under the influence of the Holy Spirit—has given us something very important to remember; something that will help us through those times of discouragement; and will keep us serving joyfully and faithfully for the advancement of Jesus’ kingdom.

Let’s look, first, at . . .

1. THE PRINCIPLE.

It’s a very basic principle—one that we see in operation in lots of different areas of everyday life. It’s something that every farmer and every gardener knows. Paul describes it in verse 7 in these words: that “whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”

When we think a little more deeply about that principle, we discover three important ‘laws’ of sowing and reaping that have to do with our ministry in the body of Christ. First, because it tells us of a man who “sows”, we can see a law that has to do with the initiative of taking action: Someone cannot justifiably expect to reap anything when they have not sown anything. No farmer stands around and expects a crop to grow on its own. He must first take initiative and sow. No gardener stands around and expects beautiful flowers to grow in her garden by themselves. She must first take action and plant seeds or bulbs. And, of course, in the body of Christ, we cannot expect good things to happen unless—as Paul said elsewhere—we put forth “the effective working by which every part does its share”.

A second ‘law’ that we derive from this principle has to do with the nature of what is sown: Someone cannot expect to reap anything other than what has been sown. “Whatever” a man sows “that” he will also reap. Someone should not expect to reap anything other than what has been sown. A farmer doesn’t plant grass-seed and expect to grow corn. A gardener doesn’t plant tomatoes and expect to grow tulips. An bird lover doesn’t even plant bird-seed and expect to grow birds; because it’s not really in the nature of bird-seed to produce birds. (I found that out as a very little boy.) And when it comes to the body of Christ, we not only shouldn’t expect something to happen unless we put forth the effort, but we also shouldn’t expect to “reap” what is good in the church unless we “sow” what is good.

And a third ‘law’ of this principle has to do with expectations for the future; because it tells us that whatever a man sows, that “he will also reap”: If someone sows, they will reap. There’s a cause-and-effect relationship between sowing and reaping. Reaping follows after sowing as surely as day follows night. If a farmer sows seed, he will reap at the time of harvest. If a gardener plants bulbs, she will have beautiful flowers in her garden in springtime. And if we faithfully sow what is good in the church and in our personal lives, we will eventually reap what is good for the body of Christ and for ourselves.

This extremely important principle—that “whatever a man sows, that he will also reap”—is something that the apostle Paul reaffirms once again in verse eight. He embraces it as an important principle of the spiritual life. And if you pay close attention, you’ll find those three ‘laws’ once again represented in what he says.

He writes,

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 (v. 8).

There’s the ‘law’ that has to do with the initiative taken in sowing: “For he who sows . . . , but he who sows . . .” A deliberate decision to sow something occurs. And there’s the ‘law’ that has to do with the nature of what is sown: “For he who sows to his flesh . . . , but he who sows to the Spirit . . .” The nature of what is reaped is connected to the nature of what is sown. And finally, there is the ‘law’ that has to do with expectation: “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.”

* * * * * * * * * *

Now; let’s take things a bit further. There are two opposing dynamics being described to us in this passage. One is called “the flesh”—or, “the sinful nature”, as it’s translated in the New International Version; and the other is called “the Spirit”. These two dynamics were described in this letter by Paul back in Galatians 5:16-26; and we need to take a moment to consider what he tells us there.

In a way, it’s easy to tell what the “flesh” is by what Paul describes as its opposite. In Galatians 5:16-18, he writes;

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law (Galatians 5:16-18).

The “flesh”, then, is the opposite of walking under the power and leading of the Holy Spirit. It’s that dynamic in us that seeks to do things from out of a selfish motive—according to our own will and in our own power—apart from submission and reliance on the Holy Spirit.

And it’s a dynamic in us that is sure to fail. As Paul went on to write;

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (vv. 19-21).

As we’ve already learned from the principle of sowing and reaping, “he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption.” The active, intentional decision to sow to the flesh—that is, to gratify our selfish, sinful passions, that dynamic in us that sets itself up against the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives—will, as a natural and certain consequence, result in our reaping the sorts of “works of the flesh” that Paul described.

Every time, dear brothers and sisters, that we make the choice to gratify the “flesh”—every time we choose to nurse a grudge against another, or to engage in gossip or falsehood; every time we choose to gaze at something on television, or in a magazine, or on the Internet, that God’s word tells us not to see; every time we choose to neglect our duty before God, or to cheat on a business deal, or to lust after what belongs to someone else—we are sowing to the “flesh”. And eventually—as surely as night follows day—we will, of the flesh, reap “corruption”.

But note that Paul goes on to write that, by contrast,

. . . the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another (vv. 22-26).

If, instead of “sowing to the flesh”, we actively choose to ‘crucify the flesh with its passions and desires’, and ‘walk in the Spirit’, we will—of the Spirit—reap the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”; all of which are pleasing to God and in keeping with His law.

* * * * * * * * * *

All of this stands behind that important principle in our passage this morning—that “whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” And I’d like to point out another thing we need to notice from that passage; and that is . . .

2. THE DANGER (v. 7a).

The danger we face is that of being fooled into believing that the spiritual principle of sowing and reaping isn’t really true. As Paul says in verse 7, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” To say that “God is not mocked” is, essentially, to say that no one turns their nose up at Him. No one will ever be able to say, “Ha! I cheated You, God! I got away with wrong-doing! I ‘sowed’, but did not ‘reap’!” That will never happen! But Paul warns that there is the danger of our being deceived into thinking it will.

How might that deception come? I certainly believe it can come from the devil himself. I believe one of the greatest deceptions that the devil seeks to foist on the world is that the spiritual principle of sowing and reaping really isn’t true. I believe he is actively and aggressively engaged in a campaign to convince people that you can ‘sow to the flesh’—and do what God says not to do—and not reap the consequences. He brings about terrible destruction in people’s lives through that deception. But another way that deception can come is through our own hearts. In the Bible, the Lord Himself tells us,

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:9-10).

Quite often, the devil doesn’t have to do much at all to deceive us about “sowing and reaping”. He just simply takes advantage of the self-deceiving bent that already exists in our own hearts.

But another way that the devil might deceive us about the principle of sowing and reaping—or that we might deceive ourselves—is through the other side of the coin. He does a great deal of damage in the church, and greatly hinders the faithful service of God’s people, by getting them to believe that it doesn’t do any good to serve the Lord. He gets Christians to believe that “he who sows to the Spirit” will NOT “of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” And that’s why we easily grow weary in the service of the Lord, and begin to lose heart. That’s why we begin to think, “Why keep giving myself to all this labor and heartache? What good does it do?” That’s why we freeze-up, and quit, and—sadly—lose the opportunities to see God do great things in and through us.

* * * * * * * * * *

Now; the Bible makes this “warning” a matter of command! Grammatically, the idea is that we are to “stop being deceived” about the spiritual principle of sowing and reaping. We need to disregard the lies of the devil—and of our own fallen and unbelieving hearts. We need to seize hold this principle as a revealed truth from God, and act upon it as something that He—by His sovereign rule—ensures is absolutely, unfailingly true and certain.

And that lead us, next, to consider . . .

3. THE PROMISE (v. 9).

Paul writes, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

We don’t always see the fruit of what we’ve sown right away. We have to be patient—just as “the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth” (James 5:7). It comes in the time that God has appointed for it—that is, “in due season”; or as the New International Version has it, “in the proper time. And sometimes, that “due season” may be years later than we expect. Some fruit may not even appear in our lifetime. But the promise is that, eventually—at the proper time—”we shall reap”.

I’ll never something I heard once in a church that my wife and I attended in Seattle. An dear elderly couple was sharing a matter of rejoicing to the church family. “Praise God with us,” they said. “A relative of ours that we’ve been praying for has finally come to know the Lord Jesus Christ and trust Him as their Savior. They had been resisting the Lord for a long time, and we’ve been praying for them for years and years. And now, they’ve finally given their lives to Jesus!” We all rejoiced with them; and asked how long they’d been praying for this family member. And then, we all gasped when they said, “We’d been praying for them for over fifty years!” Think of that! Fifty years! Most of us get discouraged and quit after fifty days! But they didn’t lose heart and quit. They kept on praying; and, in due season, they reaped!

The other day, I read a story about an unbelieving man named Luke Short. He lived in the 1700s; and grow to be a very old man. When he was 103 years old, he was sitting around outdoors—just thinking. And as he sat in thought, he remembered a sermon that he had heard long ago by the famous Puritan preacher John Flavel. As he thought through the sermon he heard long ago, he asked God—right then and there—to forgive him for his sins through Jesus Christ. He became a Christian, and he lived for another three years in happy faith in Jesus until he died at the age of 106. And here’s the remarkable thing: That sermon that he thought back on and remembered—that led him to repentance, and that changed his life—was a sermon that he heard eighty-five years prior! The old pastor John Flavel preached a sermon—faithfully sowing to the Spirit; and he reaped the fruit of it almost a hundred years later!¹

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ; let’s not you or me grow weary in doing good. We have a promise from God—that “in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

* * * * * * * * * *

And that leads us to . . .

4. THE CALL (v. 10).

It’s a natural consequence of all that we’ve studied so far from this passage: “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (v. 10)

Do you have an opportunity to serve? Do you see a need in the body of Christ? Is the Holy Spirit leading you to give of your time and energy to minister to those in need around you—and especially to others in the body of Christ? Or, are you already serving? Are you already giving of your talents and skills to minister in Jesus’ name?

And do you, at times, find it hard to keep going? Are you ministering to children and teaching them about Jesus’ love—and wondering if anything is sinking in? Are you serving in the kitchen or meeting some needs in the building—doing ‘thankless’ little chores, and feeling like no one seems to notice or care? Are you pulling along side someone who is hurting—trying to counsel them to do the right thing, but feeling like it’s going in one ear and out the other? Are you praying for someone’s salvation; but feeling like God’s not hearing you?

Then don’t let yourself be deceived. God will never be proven wrong. He has established a principle in His moral universe—that whatever we sow, that we will also reap. And if we keep on faithfully sowing good things under the leading of the Holy Spirit, we will—in due season—reap if we do lose heart.

So; let’s not grow weary. Praise God—harvest time is coming! source

Galatians 6:7-8 NLT
⁷ Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. ⁸ Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.