A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"Keep Doing Good!"

The basketball season hadn't officially begun. We had been practicing for what seemed years, but actually had only been weeks. The coach put us through the drills over and over. At times it seemed every muscle in our bodies burned and screamed to stop. But we kept going as our coach encouraged us reminding us that conditioning and practice would pay off. "Dig deep," he would tell us. "Push a little harder! You will be glad that you did!" We felt like giving up. We thought all the practice was useless. But, our coach didn't let us forget that giving up didn't accomplish anything and practice would make us fit and ready for the game.

We were sitting in the locker room nervous, but ready to make on way out onto the floor to play in the state championship game. The coach with quiet confidence calmly announced the starting five and reminded us that we had done the right things. We had practiced hard and played as a team for the whole season. He sent us out of the locker room telling us, "Go out there, do your best, and have a great time. You are winners whatever the outcome of this game!"

There are times in our lives as Christians we feel like giving up. We have lived for Jesus. We have done the right things. We have worked hard for the sake of the gospel. And it seems that all we have accomplished is get exceedingly tired. Our physical and spiritual muscles burn with fatigue. Bruises and heartbreaks are all that we can see for our efforts. We see those who are living in sin and they don't seem to be having the heaviness and heartache we have. We ask ourselves why we must suffer for doing what is right. We fall into our chairs feeling like giving up.

We are not the first to feel this way. Paul was very concerned about the early church and took on the task of being a spiritual coach. With quiet confidence in the promises of God and in Christ Jesus Paul reminded them that what people reap they will sow. With strength and power he calls out, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9)

The words ring in our ears. "We will reap a harvest!" It's not all useless after all! We must not give up, for the promise is conditional. The harvest is conditioned upon our not giving up. In Christ no labor in and for Him is ever wasted. God honors and blesses every act of love and goodness. As His Word goes forth and accomplishes He purposes, so does the good His people do. Good can only be done by the power of His indwelling Spirit. We need not rely upon our own meager resources to do the good. He provides all that we need. Nonetheless, we are the ones who are must not grow weary on doing good. We are the ones that must keep doing good.

"Don't be deceived. God cannot be mocked." What we sow we will reap. (Galatians 6:6-8) Therefore, keep doing good. Don't give up! In Christ the harvest is ours!

Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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