Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:9-10
I am not much of a runner, especially when it comes to competitive races. I much prefer standing on the sidelines, cheering those on who are running. I love getting to cheer for weary runners who feel fatigued and even defeated. I love telling them to keep running toward the finish line and not to give up. Sometimes, in the race of life, we need a reminder not to stop running the race that God has set before us. We need people standing on the sidelines cheering us on, telling us to keep going and to keep following Christ. The apostle Paul is one of those people cheering us on as we seek to run the race that God has set out before us.
Paul takes on the role of a cheerleader on the sidelines of the spiritual races we are running in Galatians 6. As this book of the Bible comes to an end, Paul issues a call for believers to keep going and keep running their race. He writes, “You will always harvest what you plant. 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” (verses 7-8). Paul explains in this verse that the way we run the race of life matters. If we live for ourselves, we will experience decay and death. If we live for Christ and His kingdom, we will harvest life that comes from following and knowing Christ. Because the way we persevere and run this race called life matters, Paul encourages us to keep going, saying, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (verse 9). Despite the trials, hardships, and persecution that come, we must keep going. We must not quit. God is working in and through us as we persevere, and we will reap a harvest if we do not quit. Next, Paul gives a mandate, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (verse 10). One of the ways we persevere through the race that God has set before us is to “do good to all people.” When we live this way, we not only please God, who created every person on earth, but we also make Christ known to everyone around us.
Heed the words of Paul today, my friend. Keep going. Keep following Christ. Do not give up. Commit to doing good to all around you. The race is too important and the stakes are too high to quit. As you persevere, you will honor your Heavenly Father, whom you dearly love.
Who do you know who might need the encouragement to keep pursuing Christ and following Him today? Follow Paul’s example and cheer them on! Maybe you have a friend walking through a trial who needs encouragement or a family member who feels discouraged. Perhaps someone in your small group needs to be cheered on in their faith. Whoever comes to mind, reach out to them today. Tell them that you are proud of them and remind them not to give up.
1Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.
4 Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. 5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct.
6 Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.
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.
11 Notice what large letters i use as i write these closing words in my own handwriting.
12 Those who are trying to force you to be circumcised want to look good to others. They don’t want to be persecuted for teaching that the cross of Christ alone can save. 13 And even those who advocate circumcision don’t keep the whole law themselves. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast about it and claim you as their disciples.
14 As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. 15 It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. 16 May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God.
17 From now on, don’t let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus.
18 Dear brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
