Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
Explores the importance of doing good for the right reasons, persevering in our efforts, and the impact of unwearied goodness on our lives and community.
Good morning, everyone. It's such a joy to see you all here today, ready to delve into God's word together. We're going to be focusing on a passage from Galatians today, specifically Galatians 6:9-10.
But before we get to that, I want to share a quote with you. It's from A.W. Tozer, a man who had a deep and abiding love for the Lord and who spent his life sharing that love with others. He once said, "It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular, it is why he does it."
That's a powerful thought, isn't it? The idea that the value of our work isn't determined by what we're doing, but by why we're doing it. That's something we're going to be thinking about a lot today as we look at our passage.
So, let's take a moment to read the passage together. It says,
"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."
There's a lot to unpack there, but before we do, let's take a moment to pray.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day and for the opportunity to gather together as a community of believers. We ask that you would open our hearts and our minds to your word today. Help us to understand what you're saying to us through this passage and to apply it to our lives. We pray that we would not grow weary in doing good, but that we would find joy and fulfillment in serving you and serving others. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
So, we've got three main points we're going to be looking at today. First, we're going to talk about the call to do good. Then, we're going to discuss the challenge of perseverance. And finally, we're going to look at the impact of unwearied goodness. So, let's get started.
In the passage we read from Galatians, we find an instruction that is simple yet profound. We are called to do good. This isn't a suggestion or a recommendation, but a clear directive from the apostle Paul. It's a call that echoes throughout the scriptures, from the teachings of Jesus to the writings of the prophets. But what does it mean to do good? And how does this fit into the broader context of our lives as followers of Christ?
The nature of goodness: Goodness isn't just about being nice or polite. It's not about following a set of rules or adhering to a particular code of conduct. Goodness, in the biblical sense, is about reflecting the character of God. It's about embodying the love, grace, and mercy that God has shown us. It's about being a light in a dark world, a beacon of hope to those who are lost and hurting. This is the kind of goodness that Paul is talking about in Galatians.
Isn't always easy: It requires effort and sacrifice. It requires us to put the needs of others before our own. It requires us to step out of our comfort zones and to take risks. It requires us to be vulnerable and to open ourselves up to potential rejection and criticism. Yet, despite these challenges, we are called to do good. Not because it's easy, but because it's right. Because it's what God has called us to do.
About our attitudes: It's about the way we see the world and the way we see others. It's about recognizing the inherent dignity and worth of every person, regardless of their background, their circumstances, or their actions. It's about treating others with kindness and respect, even when they don't deserve it. It's about showing grace and forgiveness, even when it's hard. This is the kind of attitude that underpins the call to do good.
About who we do it for: In the passage from Galatians, Paul tells us to do good to all people, but he also adds a special emphasis on doing good to those who belong to the family of believers. This doesn't mean that we should only do good to other Christians, but it does mean that we have a particular responsibility to care for and support our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is a reflection of the love and unity that should characterize the body of Christ.
As we consider the words of Galatians 6:9-10, we find ourselves facing a challenge ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO