Galatians 6:9

New Living Translation (NLT)

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.

For Meditation

She had always wanted to have her Bible study group in her house for lunch one day, and this Sunday seemed perfect. She hurried home, entered her “office,” and began cooking and baking. It was getting late, and her guests would file in any time, but there was still so much to do. In exasperation, she screamed, “Lord, why did I invite these people for lunch today?” She served lunch, and they clasped hands for prayer. Our host asked the leader of their fellowship to bless the meal.

“Well, today I will cede to little Kwesi to pray for us.”

Our host’s son panicked and whispered to his mother, “Mom, I don’t know what to say.” His mother whispered back. “Just say what you heard me say the last time.”

“Lord, why did I invite these people for lunch today?” little Jones said.

Some days could be that bad, isn’t it—the days when we get inundated with so much that we sometimes want to scream at the top of our voices at those around us? Don’t we get frustrated sometimes with work and all we must do within a specific time, and we regret picking up the extra work or making that promise? When we have much to do, we get angry with our children for all their nagging and complaining.

Haven’t you regretted helping someone before? Your heart went out to them and stepped in to support them for a while, but now they have become dependent, like a flea. You can’t get them off your skin. How about the ungratefulness of the person you have poured your heart into before? Are you getting there now?

Like little Kwesi, say what you said in private the last time the person called for another offer of kindness. Go on now. Be honest about it and see how you feel now. It’s therapy today.

Now, hear the Spirit of God telling you today: “[Do] not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time [you] will reap a harvest of blessing if [you] don’t give up” (Gal. 6:9).

That’s it! At just the right time! Your irritation is testing your faith, and you need perseverance to get to the right time, which is not yours to determine but God’s. You have sowed, and the reaping time will come as God has determined. The farmer cannot hurry the harvest. Yesterday, we spoke about Joseph’s trials and disappointment with Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer. Yet, Joseph continued to do good supervising the prisoners for free. Didn’t the right time come for him, and how sweet was it?

Yours may not come on this side of eternity, but yonder. May the Lord encourage you by His word today and help you continue until the harvest time. May the joy of the Lord strengthen you to continue blessing others for the glory of Christ Jesus our Lord.

Prayer

Lord of the harvest, please give us the patience to continue doing good until the set time for the harvest comes. We confess our irritation and temptation to give up, that you will strengthen us to endure. In Christ, we ask, amen.