The downside to sowing and reaping

    We ... well many of us, put a positive spin on the teaching on sowing and reaping. It is positive. When we read in John (15) about abiding in the vine that we reap a fruitfulness. We also learn that apart from abiding we can't achieve the fruitfulness... we are told that apart from abiding in Jesus we can do nothing. For me, doing nothing is never an option though my behavior doesn't always follow through on this principle. 

  When you look at the following 3 scriptures, we begin to see what sowing and reaping means - the influence and effects. This begins with the admonition to 'Keep your heart' - your responsibility (Proverbs 4:23).  This is further explained in verses 24-27

     "Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues
      of life." (Proverbs 4:23)
      Put away from a deceitful mouth... Put perverse lips far from you.(24)
      Let your eyes look straight ahead... (25) Ponder the path of your feet,
      And let all your ways be established. (26) Do not turn to the right or 
      the left; Remove your foot from evil." (27)

     "For every tree is known by its own fruit...(Luke 6:44) A good man out 
      of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good... For out of the 
      abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (45)

     "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, For whatever a man sows,
      that he will reap..." (Galatians 6:7)

For whatever is sown, will be reaped! Not just the good, but the bad as well.

  I was once asked if I believed that if what we did was truly unintentional and we quickly repented and did those acts representative of repentance, that we wouldn't reap the negative? Honestly, I'd love to believe that but I really don't know. Perhaps the reaping is less severe but that is never ours to determine. Since sowing and repeating is a law, we can't ignore the repercussions and ramifications from our actions or expect them to simply fade. However, if the reaping is based in the other's revenge - I'd like to think it wouldn't be as severe. The point really is our responsibility to be intentionally alert and follow what Proverbs tells us.

  Simultaneously to being alert is not to become fearful or obsessive about making 'mistakes'. Just as sowing and repeating is a law, I tend to believe that making mistakes is also a law. Mistakes happen. It's the intent of the heart that should be of concern (Proverbs 4:23). Luke 6:45 and Matthew 15:18 tell us that from the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Do you listen to yourself and understand what you are saying comes from your heart? Do your words bless or curse others? James (3:10) points out that the mouth speaks what's in our hearts. Do your words speak blessings from a heart of love? If so, then you will reap the same.

Now and Then

  Isaiah 49:8 

     "Thus says the Lord: 'In an acceptable time I have heard you. And
      in the day of salvation I have helped You:'"  

which is repeated by Paul in 2Corinthians 6:2 as he continues this thought; 
  
      "Behold now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."
     
  Now and then are the reasons for being saved, born again. I realize that many people resist the 'born again' designation but this is what happens. It's far better than simply having your slate wiped cleaned, because with wiping the slate you still retain what and who you were. 'Born again' is best described in 2Corinthians 5, which tells us that we are a new creation - now! 

  Salvation brings with it so many gifts, opportunities, and most of all, a way to become who you have always been designed to be - a child of the King. Why would you hesitate? Now is much preferred over Then. You can live in Now, now which is far better than waiting till... then. But some still tend to wait. There appears to be two major reasons many people hesitate at accepting the gift of restoration by accepting in their lives Jesus as Lord. 1. you don't believe, typically defined as what do you get and have to give up. 2. you are not 'good enough', whatever that means. Granted different words may be used but most excuses/reasons fall into one of those two areas.

  To respond to the Second major reason first... the answer is that no one is ever 'good enough' nor can we, of ourselves, ever be or attain that status. Ephesians tells us that this new status has been prepared for us (chapter 2). Examples: "...made us alive together with Christ..." (v 5); "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." (v 8). Why? Because, "God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us." (v 4) Just from only 3 scriptures we see: have been saved, gift of God, made us alive, prepared for us, etc. All these verbs are past tense. It's been done and it's our decision to accept.

  The first reason is that we believe we have to 'give up' what we think is important to us. However, we never are asked to do this but we do find ourselves choosing to reject those 'things' that are harmful as we learn more about who we now are and Whose we are. Being saved is never a little thing. And once we begin to discover what we have been given as a result of accepting Jesus as Lord, we discover who we are now, such as gaining an inheritance (Ephesians 1:11, Romans 8:16-17, etc.) which tells us we gain all that Jesus appropriated for us - 1John 3:1-2, Romans 8:17. Simply, we begin by repenting and accepting Jesus as our personal Lord. This is the only way.

     "There is no other name by which you are saved." Acts 4:12

Walk... Forgiven or Guilty

  How do you walk - as forgiven or still dead in your sins? When you've gone to the Lord repentant, seeking forgiveness, and determined to not repeat do you then walk as forgiven or do you hold on to your guilt? For many, they still walk as condemned which means that they are hanging on to their sin and that they don't believe the Lord when He says He will forgive (1John 1:9 -2:2). I don't mean to sound harsh but if you don't believe you are forgiven... why would you seek the Lord's forgiveness? Are you really not repentant? Do you believe you are beyond forgiveness? Why would we be told to walk as forgiven if we really aren't? The ramifications from your response (belief) to this basic question can't be underestimated.

  I remember a verse in Psalms in which David is 'making his case' and says that he is coming in his righteousness! And in Psalm 7:8 David asks the Lord to judge him according to his (David's) righteousness. Here is a man who has committed adultery and then had the husband killed and yet he can say 'his' righteousness! How? This puzzled me for years until I began to understand that one of our quests is in seeking righteousness. (Matthew 6:33)

      "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness..."(Matthew 6:33)

It's not our righteousness, it's God's. And then I read 1 Corinthians 5:17-22 and saw that in making Jesus our Lord, "...we might become the righteousness of God in Him (Jesus)" (v 22) We become, righteousness is accounted to us. Remember Abraham (Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3) and his faith. Just as we have to have faith, to believe we are forgiven, this faith is accounted as righteousness. 

  I think it's because we should not carry the weight of sin around but to carry forgiveness, which is considerably lighter, and walk as forgiven. What does this behavior signify? That we ARE forgiven, that this is part of the inheritance we receive.  That in acting on this we can give hope to those who have no hope. That it never is because of who we are, but it's because of who Jesus is and has purchased for us.

  It has to become a mindset that we are not who we were (guilty) but it's whose we are (Jesus's) and we can walk as forgiven. To walk as guilty means we really are dead in our trespasses and have no hope. But we have hope, we have a promise summarized in Ephesians 2:1,4-6:

     "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins ...
      But God...made us alive together with Christ... and raised us up
      together and made us sit together in the heavenly places..." 

We have a wonderful message to share that brings hope and peace - forgiven.
      
      

Redo (?) or Make History.

  "You can't undo history but you can make it." Isn't that a great line? This comment was uttered in a program I was listening to, and it captured my thinking. Maybe not particularly original, but it still is a good thought. It should also cause us to stop and consider where our emphasis is - then or now. History is an 'is' - one can't deny it or even argue it.  But... what actually do we do with and about our history - good and bad? How do we let it teach us? It's not necessary to continually reinvent the wheel, sooo...? Simultaneously, we can't live in yesterday. And 'History' is really defined as - yesterday. 

  Do you allow your history to 'teach' you? Or is it only a memory - sometimes pleasant, sometimes not so much. Do you know what is happening in your world that triggers a consideration of history? When you look at your now, does any of it seem familiar? Is what's happening something entirely new or something in which you can use your previous experience? This last question should not be viewed as an in cement situation because I doubt that everything is entirely same. But, can you use what you previously learned or is it necessary to approach resolution or action from an entirely different perspective?

  It is so easy to get caught in a - I've been here before so I know precisely what do do (and not do) to move on. When you approach any situation, especially vaguely familiar ones, with a, 'I've got the answer' then you don't allow this situation to teach, to allow you to create a new way of responding. And yes, as I've said... it's not necessary to reinvent the wheel. But you can also begin to learn new ways of responding and interacting. New may be familiar but it is never the same.

  History can bind us to its past or it can be a pillar that can be a support as we reach into the unknown to effectively respond. Let History have its place - never discard it or the learning you gained. Simultaneously, never let it control the now because 'then' is not now. Now has some terrific lessons to teach us and eventually will become History. Question... what do you want to do with and about your History? It is you... then. Life's learning lab affords us multiple opportunities to grow and if you don't learn the lesson now, trust me - more chances to act on this will occur. 'Then' forms your foundation to Be and Do now but now will eventually become your then.

I am ...

  How would you finish that sentence? How do you describe and define you? And yes I know I've asked this question multiple times before and in multiple contexts. Still a valid question... and a continually evolving one. Do you define yourself in terms of the things you do? Perhaps you define yourself more than you describe you by focusing on those words, such as intelligent or creative or a leader, etc. that indicate the person you are? Maybe you use one word to describe or maybe you use phrases. Regardless, you always express who you are, your 'I am' with every word you utter and every action you take. Fundamental question - do you know you?  

  But... do you really know you? Do you understand you? Do you value you? And yes, knowing, understanding and valuing ARE important! I know I've said this before but until you can value yourself you will never be able to accept valuing from others. The adjectives you choose to describe you... are they positive ones? Negative? Have you defined, operationally, what and how this describes you? And yes, you are more than only the sum of your parts but you still need to know your parts.

  From a different perspective, what is missing for you and are these important or realistic for you to work on for you to become who you can be in the world you live in? Until you can define your I am, your 'I do' has no foundation for expression. Expression obviously will occur but is there continuity and conviction directing the expression? Except for the essential aspects, nothing of who you are and what you do is cast in cement. Nor would this be what we want or need. We are designed to grow, to discover and this can never happen if change wasn't also a component. 

  I think that what I am attempting to do is to encourage you to take the time for you - now, not in the some undefined future. To learn who you are becoming and the influences that are motivating you - this should always be an ongoing 'activity' and it doesn't smack of me-ism, it's a discovery process. For you to understand and appreciate you, you have to know you. And don't simply assume. You are far more complex than you may realize and simultaneously, as simple and straight-forwarded as you wish to portray yourself. Also, remember that refinement or change or growth - you choose your frame of reference, never happens in a vacuum. In order for you to Be and Do your best you, you have to know your who/what/why/how. So... what, for you, follows after 'I am...' 
  

Following... Who? and Why?

  Since no man is an island, I've interpreted this to mean that everyone follows someone. Yes? Most important - who do You follow... and why? Do you know? There must be a reason! Their power? Their personality - intelligence, charisma, forcefulness, reasoning, (fill in the blank)? There has to be a reason why you adhere to that person and their beliefs and actions - yes? How does following them reinforce or expand who you are and what you do? It must uplift you and help you become your best you or why would you follow them? 

  I could go on with the questions and, yes, I have asked this question before, though perhaps with a different emphasis. Going back to the opening sentence, I suspect we all need others to confirm what we think and believe and we tend to surround ourselves with like-minded people. But do we also get way too comfortable in our surroundings? Do we think outside the box and test our thinking? Or are we only into 'safe' (individually defined) areas? Are we growing and becoming who we can be and do what we can do?

  For you, what are some of the critical characteristics that must be on display for you to follow someone else's leading? You need to be specific for yourself or you might fall into the trap of being led down the primrose path to destruction. Reliable? Proven track record? Stable? but not a closed or stodgy thoughts and behavior? Open to others' ideas or suggestions? Trust-able? Approachable? Doesn't play favorites. These would be some of the qualities I'd look at because, for me, these are critical - but this is not an exhaustive list. These must be essential qualities and not superficial and unimportant ones. My point is not the qualities I feel are important, but do you know yours? 

  I will assert that there is One who ticks all the boxes, who fills all the requirements - Jesus. For me, this is who I will continue to follow. I made that choice a long time ago and have never regretted it. I have witnessed His unfailing love and caring that He extends to all. And have discovered all that is prepared for me when I accept Him as my Lord. My role is to continue to discover Who He is and what that means in my life - and to become all I am destined to be. This is always my opportunity... and choice. Sooo... who are you following... and why?

Righteous

   This is another of those ‘topics’ that we may talk about and yet have differing definitions... mostly dependent upon our ‘experiences’. I really don't believe we can self-declare it for ourselves. I know I’ve written about righteousness a number of times because I keep learning more about what it means. I’m going to cut to the chase, my bottom line, so that the following discussion’s context is understood.

  My experience and learning is that righteousness has two primary goals – to restore us to relationship with the Father and to help us be effective Ambassadors in our world. I also believe that righteousness can never be earned or purchased. Righteousness is part of our gifting when we accept Jesus for who He was and continues to be and what He did and continues to do in lives that accept Him. This forms a somewhat simplistic understanding of how I approach the state and status of – righteous.

  Scripture talks about righteousness many times and in many ways. But, do you know what this means for you? Are you aware that relationship with the Father is built on righteousness? And did you know you can't buy or earn righteousness, that there is nothing you are able to do to attain this state? Righteousness is a gift that is given to us when we turn to the Jesus and make Him our Lord. 

  One of the scriptures that I stand on, which is critically important to me, as I grow and develop is: 

     "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation,

      old things have passed away; behold all things have

      become new. Now all things are of God, who has

      reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has

      given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God

      was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not

      imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed

      to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are

      ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading

      through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be

      reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no

      sin to be sin for us, that we might become the

      righteousness of God in Him." (2Corinthians 5:17-22)

As you can see, there is a definite purpose for us to be righteous - so we can become His Ambassadors. However, I also believe that a primary reason is that now we can be in relationship. There are so many key concepts in this passage including: anyone, new creation, old things/all things...new, has reconciled, ministry of reconciliation, not imputing, etc. etc. Each of the words I underlined or highlighted defines our BE-ing and Do-ing.

(Yes, there's more. You'll have to purchase my next book to read a fuller discussion. However, this brief one can keep you cogitating for days.)

It may be me...

but it's not the me I want me to be! Ever feel like that? To me it's the lament Paul talks when he says he does those things he doesn't want to do and doesn't do the things he wants to do. (Romans 7:15.19) What's our answer? What can we do about this issue or are we always subject to our own worse self?

 Granted that last statement was somewhat melodramatic, but it doesn't lessen its reality. What can we do? Be more aware and intentional - yes. Continue to grow and put off the old self and put on the new (Colossians 3:9) - yes. Continue to renew our minds (Romans 12:2) - yes. And??? One suggestion might be that daily, at night, review your day. Recognize those times that you did do those things that you wanted to do and what and why this came about. Also, recognize the reverse. When this becomes a regular habit then it will be an excellent way to grow into that better you.

  Why? (Philippians 3:13-14), Paul:

     "...but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and
      reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward
      the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

To gain the prize (the upward call). To Be and Do all that has been planned for me. To be a good, fruitful steward. Those goals are prize worthy.

  If you want to continue to grow into your best you, if you want to do those things you want and not do those things you don't want then you have to be mindful to do what enhances these opportunities and eliminate from your responses those temptations that lead you astray. And I would suggest that one of the first things you need to do is allow yourself grace when you don't do what you want. Not excuse, not explanation but acknowledgement of what you did 'wrong' and grant yourself the grace to grow beyond that and seek those words and behaviors that increase your 'right's'. If you wallow in self recrimination you waste time. Yes you were wrong but yes you also repented and now it's time to continue. You really CAN do it and become your best you.

Do-ing's stages

  Stage 1: first comes knowledge. Knowledge is a willful act - you must willingly pursue it. Scripture, Proverbs, tells us to seek knowledge. It isn't always an issue of liking the knowledge, it's not valued this way. Knowledge doesn't hide or elude us but it does require us to pursue it, to discover. Knowledge has to be a priority in our lives and never an avocation. And always remember that once you have the knowledge, you can't unknow. You are always responsible for what you know.

 After Knowledge comes understanding - again not a like versa dislike issue. Understanding is a deeper level than knowledge. And again scripture tells us that in all our seeking to 'get' understanding. Understanding is taking your knowledge and using the knowledge in order to grow and let it direct our plans, our thinking, our actions. Sometimes it takes 'experimenting' with the knowledge in order to understand what is the best, but experimentation is also not a like/dislike issue - it's another opportunity to discover.

  Application is the evidence that comes from Knowledge and Understanding, and SHOULD form the foundation of our actions... our do-ing. Actually this is a dual evidence situation - for you, as you act on your knowledge and understanding, and for others. Application is the single method to demonstrate what the knowledge is and your understanding of how it is to be applied. Besides, when you know, remembering you can't unknow, and when you understand, even in its beginning stages, the confirmation comes in your application.   

  One of the greatest benefits of the realization and acceptance of the stages in our doing is that it gives us a foundation and standard on which to respond in difficult or different situations in which we haven't been involved. Life is a continual learning lab. Our senses are constantly besieged with new information. In order for us to have a basis of response, we need to have a working, operational basis on which to act. Flying by the seat of our pants can be entertaining or exciting or give us an opportunity to think out of the box, but if we don't apply what we know, what we've previously experienced then we don't consciously build on our understanding. Effective thinking out of the box does have a foundation of previous understanding and knowledge. Why re-invent the wheel?                     

What seeds are You planting?

  You do realize that with every action, every word you utter you are planting seeds? Some of the seeds, like the description in Matthew 13 and Luke 8, fall on the wayside, some on stony places, some on thorns, but some on good ground. This is the Parable of the Sower. But what we all need to appreciate is that WE sow seeds as well. (I can't speak for you but there have been/are times that I end up praying that my words or actions fall on one of the first 3 places and that they don't produce. Reaping is not a good in these cases.) 

  This is the point - our seeds produce. And, when we read scripture we see that seeds produce after their own kind. We also read (Matthew 12:36-37):

     "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they
      will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words
      you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

With this scripture in mind, we can cause our words and actions to be effective whether they are of support or correction, as long as we are intentional.

  It really is our decision as to whether we want out words and actions, our seeds to produce good fruit or not. And we have a standard by which to determine where we stand. John 15:1-5 tells us: (underlining mine)

     "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every 
      branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every
      branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
      ...I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and
      I in him bears much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing."

This is the relief - that we aren't doing this of ourselves or by ourselves. Fruit, even rotten fruit, is always produced. The point is that we have the opportunity to produce good fruit. The condition is that we can't do it alone. Pride will definitely get in our way. 

  I would add that we need to consider the how and when of seeding. We are told that the field is white unto harvest (John 4:35). And we are to be ready in and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2) to give an accounting. This is an intentionality but not obsession. Being prepared to seed is the point because we never know if we will plant, or water, or harvest (1 Corinthians 3:6).