Farming is used allegorically many times in Scripture to illustrate God’s care for his creation and human stewardship of that creation entrusted to them. For example, God is the faithful Farmer and Father who plants and cultivates human beings; forming them from the dust of the earth and creating sons and daughters. Jesus uses parables of farming to represent the Kingdom of God and producing crops of righteousness in human beings. The Holy Spirit sows righteousness into his sons and daughters and produces fruit that can be harvested to feed others.
Spiritual farming is evident throughout many biblical lessons, because the hearts of believers are constantly being cultivated to bring forth new faith which weeds out sin in order to produce better lives. In many parables, Jesus uses the concept of spiritual farming to help us gain understanding from difficult topics—some times things we simply don’t want to hear. Therefore, we must dig deeper into the fertile ground of God’s love. Many times, Jesus followed his parables with the statement, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand” (Mat 13:9).
In our passage today, the Apostle Paul reminds the believers in Galatia they must keep planting by the Spirit, even though it is very hard work, because the goal is to bring a spiritual harvest—a spiritual reward. Burnout is real and we must be careful not to lose heart; we need to stay the course to receive the harvest God has for us. Spiritual leaders need believers with the gift of encouragement to surround them, because spiritual formation, cultivation, and production involves a struggle against the flesh, a sinful culture, and the powers of darkness. Despite the struggle, let’s keep moving toward the spiritual harvest! To God be the Glory for the goodness he cultivates and shares through his children!
Galatians 6:7-10 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. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.
Prayer: Lord, sometimes it is very difficult to press on in faith when we cannot see the results of the Word working in our hearts. Only you can see the proof of our salvation. So, give us the love, energy, vision, leadership, and hearts to serve where we can and trust the Spirit to produce the fruit of righteousness in all your sons and daughters for your glory. When we feel faint, help us to gather, receive, and be refreshed in the Spirit who encourages us to press on to your high call of living in Christ. We put up our shield of faith and take authority and dominion over everything that seeks to defeat us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.