October 26, 2022 ~ Devotions: "Harvest"

  And So I Continue . . . . . .  

That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and 

tell of all thy wondrous works.   Psalms 26:7  

19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  ~Galatians 5:19-21

There are many types of "Harvest", when you think about it.  Normal thought goes to a field of corn, hay, or some type of fruit like apples, peaches, oranges. But have you ever thought of the harvest of our own hearts? Folks like to say; "You are what you eat!" or "You are 'like' who you hang around with!"  Both usually true. As long as we live, we will be associated to something or someone. Whether as children are like their parents as like their friends, or adults who can be classed in those same categories. Then there is the stark difference between those who are "Like Christ" and those that are "Like the devil."  

Whatever your association, Paul says that the works of our flesh will harvest our true inner person. We will manifest our "flesh" (corrupt nature, as before and by the works of it. Not only external acts of sin, but inward lusts that no one knows about but God.) These can include hatred, wrath, envying's, all those things Paul named in the verses above.  Both inward and external acts are so called because they come from the "flesh" part of our beings, the corrupt nature of man. We are good about keeping those "inward" fleshly feelings to ourselves aren't we, but they are still sin, growing as a Harvest and they will eventually show themselves in our external selves! This type of "harvest" is contrary to the Spirit, and to the principle of grace that we form in the heart. Though Paul did not name all of the fleshly characters of sin, he named enough to hit my heart.  

We are all subject to committing every sin named in the Word of God, but God gave us a way to overcome such things in our lives. We have the entire written Word of God to read, study, learn, apply to our lives.  That wonderful spiritual side that most Christians should desire to have, can be ours for the asking. 1 John 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 

Do we want to be more Christlike, and willing to surrender every portion of our beings to the Lord? I choose Christlike, yet there are times that we as Christians will fall short, temptation takes over - for the devil himself KNOWS he cannot have your soul, but he can destroy your testimony. To me that is like stabbing me in the heart. If I do anything that would cause anyone from turning away from God, may God forgive me.  

What is your heart "harvesting" ~ are the results of your harvest pleasing to God.  That is what I want.  May I challenge all of us today to work on whatever harvest is in our lives that is not pleasing to God.  Tell Him, you are sorry for any sin in your life and ask Him to forgive you! I must admit, I turn to Him daily for forgiveness for any reason.  He will! He loves us. 

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Start your day off on your knees. Trust Him with your every care and watch that spiritual harvest show itself from your heart!

With love and prayers,

LKMilam

Linda K Milam

Missionary to America and Around the World