Verse of the Day 8/17

Verse of the Day 8/17

Galatians 6:9-10 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. ¹⁰ So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.  English Standard Version (ESV)

I've been following a diet program for a couple of months now and have lost about 20 lbs. I have another 15 lbs to go to get to my desired weight.  The first five or six pounds when beginning a diet are fairly easy.  After that you may follow the diet and there will be a few days in a row where nothing seems to change or perhaps you even slip back a little bit.  You get discouraged and may ask "is it worth it?" 

In this day of technology we can have apps on our phone that give us a "weight tracker".  You plug in your weight and the changes day by day and when you open the app you can see where you are today but you can also take a look at the progress.  Seeing that overall progress gives you encouragement on those days when nothing seems to be happening.  You tell yourself  "stick to it", in the end it will have been worth it.

The Message (below) tells us "don't allow yourselves to get fatigued doing good". (v.9).  Have you been there?  Nothing seems to come from it for a time and you question whether it is worth the effort.  We need to do the same thing in our spiritual lives as we do in our diets.  When we feel that way, step back and look back and see what God has done in your life.  You may not know  the  impact of your good works, your generous deeds, but God does, and some day when you're feeling down, you'll likely hear about something that sprang out of those deeds.

Have you been following this diet?  If not, you can start today.  Where do you start?  You won't have to go too far, "starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith." The Message (v.10).  "Brighten the Corner Where You Are".

Do not wait until some deed of greatness you may do,
Do not wait to shed your light afar;
To the many duties ever near you now be true,
Brighten the corner where you are.

• Refrain:
  Brighten the corner where you are!
  Brighten the corner where you are!
  Someone far from harbor you may guide across the bar;
  Brighten the corner where you are!

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Galatians 6:8-10The Message (MSG)

^7-8 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.

^9-10 So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.