Galatians 6:7-8 NKJV
James 5:16 NKJV
Genesis 50:15-21 NKJV
Chapter Five, Part One
The Art of Forgiveness; Forgiveness Series
A few of the pivotal verses the Apostle Paul wrote about are found in Galatians 6:7-8. We read, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”
Galatians 6:7 is so powerful and complex in nature that it seems like I’ve been studying it for years! Still, the Greek text for these verses is pretty straightforward.
Not misled (planasthe is the Greek word), God (Theos) not mocked (mykterizetai). Whatever for it might sow (spire), a man that also he will reap (therisei).
You’d think it’s so clear and straightforward that day and night people would desire to sow good in love so they would reap good in love.
It’s been my experience in this life that men (and women) do not take that verse seriously. According to the very next verse there are dire consequences when we do not sow good seed.
Galatians 6:8 says, “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”
If we do not choose to sow in God’s love, we sow in the flesh. In other words, if we aren’t doing what God would have us do and we are thinking of ourselves, we are sowing in the flesh.
The Apostle Paul then goes on to say when we think of ourselves and we sow in the flesh we WILL reap corruption or destruction. Paul reiterates that when we sow according to the Spirit of God, we will reap everlasting life. We will reap God and eternal things.
We will reap God. We will reap good. We will reap life everlasting.
So, how does our reaping and sowing fit into God’s plan for our forgiveness?
Aren’t we forgiven? I mean, really forgiven? Yes.
We are forgiven. When we sin against God and we ask Him to forgive us, we are forgiven.
If we transgress against another person, aren’t we forgiven?
We need to make it right with the other person. And then you are forgiven. Scripture and psychologists agree that if we do something that hurts another person we need to go to them, confess it and make it right.
We cannot confess it to God and ask God to make it right with the other person when we do not intend to make it right with the other person. We need to confess it to both God and the other person.
In James 5:16, we learn, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
When we have done something, sinned against a partner or a friend, in order to be healed we need to confess our sin to them. Understand that when we confess it’s done in the context of intention. Our intention is that we will turn away from our sin.
We are not given free reign to sin, confess, sin and confess. The intention is that we when we confess we are saying we do not have the intention of committing the same sin again. We also reap what we sow. Forgiving the sin to God is complete. Continually sowing destruction and reaping destruction is complete as well. We are forgiven, AND we do reap what we have sown.
In other words, if a man or a woman is unfaithful to their partner, they confess it to God and they are forgiven. They confess it to their partner, and in some cases they confess it to the person they’ve been seeing. In addition to that, the intention is that they will forever end the relationship with the third person. Until confession is complete, it’s not complete. They have already sown seeds that have done harm to their partnership relationship by bringing a third party into the relationship. They have brought destruction to their relationship and that needs to be rebuilt.
All cards must be placed on the table.
They have sown destruction that will reap damage.
Even if the unfaithful partner ends the secret relationship with the third party, they still have to confess their secret relationship with their partner and work through the pain and agony of reconciliation. Until everything is out in the open and the secret relationship is really over forever, the reconciliation isn’t complete.
Once everything is out in the open, in time the relationship can be healed. That healing will include rebuilding and reestablishing trust with their partner. Rebuilding that trust may take a very long time, depending on the situation.
The same is true for broken trust in families. In Genesis 50:15-21 as we read in the story of Joseph and his broken relationship with his brothers, “When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.” So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, “Before your father died he commanded, saying, ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.” ’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.” Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.”
Joseph’s brothers genuinely sought forgiveness with the intention of making their relationship right again, and Joseph knew that. Joseph also knew that God took the bad and used it for good (as in Romans 8:28).
Once again, nothing is hidden. Nothing is hidden because God sees and knows. We cannot hide what’s in our heart from God.
The message is not about works. It is a matter of surrendering it to God. It’s about choosing grace. It’s about choosing healing.
It’s about choosing God.
Today’s Spiritual Practice is: Choose God
Seek forgiveness and choose God.
In God, Deborah
acrazyjourney.com
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