The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life (Galatians 6:8).
Sixty seconds
times sixty minutes
times twenty-four hours
equals
eighty-six thousand, four hundred
seeds
today.
What will you plant?
Sow well, Beloved of Christ.
Happy Wednesday
A man reaps what he sows (Galatians 6:7).
Hey, I’m no farmer, but I’ve planted a seed or two in my time.
Usually they die, but that’s not the point.
The point is, even someone of my limited gardening skills and decidedly grey thumbs knows that the picture on the seed package is there to tell you what’s inside. Rarely does one find a package labelled, “Random Mystery Seeds.” You know what you’re planting, long before it begins to grow. The wise gardener is very careful about what seeds he plants.
‘Course, we’re not really talking about gardens here, are we?
You’re so quick–that’s what I like about you.
Happy Tuesday, Beloved.
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked (Galatians 6:7).
I would never mock God.
Openly
But how often do I act as though God did not really exist? How often do I read his words and then go off and do my own thing, completely forgetting what I just read? How often do I face the world in my pathetic strength, ignoring his voice telling me to trust Him?
Too often
Tell me I’m not alone here.
Beloved, when we do these things, we treat the Lord of the Universe as if he were ours to command, ignore, or cast aside at our discretion.
Not a good idea
He loves you, but he won’t allow that.
So, take a moment or two or twelve this morning to remind yourself of just exactly who you are, and whose you are. Then go live like it.
Happy Monday, Beloved.
I’m a white, middle-aged, male, conservative Christian.
I even voted for Trump.
Still reading? Cool.
Look, I know that, in the eyes of many people, I am what is wrong with the United States, if not with the world. And I’m not looking for a fight here–there’s way too much animosity flowing over the airwaves and through cyberspace as it is. I haven’t come to defend myself, or to mock, or to point fingers. I come to ask a serious, thoughtful question of my liberal friends:
Do I have to be a hater?
I mean, do you think it is possible that the positions I take on political and social issues are the result of my honest beliefs and truly reflect what I think is best for society, or must they spring from hate? Is it reasonable to assume that I am an intelligent, compassionate, caring person who sees some of the same problems that you do, but who envisions different solutions? Does your worldview allow for this disagreement without branding me a minion of evil?
I sure hope so.
Social media can be a great means of communication, but it tends to favor extreme viewpoints. Stereotypes get reinforced. The stereotype of the Liberal that many conservatives hold is that they are immature, short-sighted, and ignorant of real world cause and effect. Conservatives, for their part, are seen by the Left as selfish, hateful, corrupt, and multi-phobic.
And we wonder why we can’t have a decent discussion.
Here’s what I’d like to do.
I’d like to have a decent discussion.
Over the next weeks, I plan to post several short articles explaining what I think are Mainstream Conservatism’s views on some of the big issues facing our culture. You know–the stuff that spawns the name-calling and mocking two-dimensional memes and desire for safe spaces. I plan to speak respectfully and with an open mind. I ask you, my liberal friend, to listen with the same respect and, if you wish, thoughtfully engage my ideas.
We’re looking for free speech…not hate speech.
So look out for the first of these articles in about a week–I do have a day job, after all. Let’s see what reasoned discussion looks like.
If your ideas can’t stand up to a little good, old-fashioned debate, then your ideas are weak. Or you are.
–Michael Burns
Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor (Galatians 6:6).
So I’m setting up a GoFundMe account for any donations you may want to…
Yeah…no.
FYI, I don’t consider this blog “Instruction in the word.” This is more like a kid wandering through the woods, pointing at all the beautiful stuff but not really knowing what any of it is or how any of it works, and occasionally getting covered in poison ivy. I’m glad you’re along for the walk, but you gotta realize that I’m not a certified guide. I don’t always know what I’m talking about.
Hopefully you have someone in your life who really understands the Scriptures and helps you understand them as well.
That’s the person Paul is talking about here.
Paul points out in more than one of his letters that those who teach the Word have a heavy responsibility before God. If they lead His children away from truth, either for their own gain or because of their own sin, it will seriously stink to be them. Teachers of the word are held to a high standard, as they should be.
They are also worthy of honor. They are the ones who can help us to see God more closely, who can make the Word more accessible by showing us how it connects and applies to life. These are the people who show us God’s love on every page of the Bible.
Take a few moments this morning to pray for your pastor, your teacher, your spiritual leader. Ask God how you can honor and support them–spiritually, emotionally, and materially. They deserve it.
Happy Friday, Beloved.
Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load (Galatians 6:4-5).
Wait a minute.
Didn’t Paul just say–like Tuesday–that we are to carry each other’s burdens?
Then why is he now saying that, “Each one should carry his own load?”
This kind of stuff drives me bonky.
It seems to me, if I may be so bold, that the context of verse 2 (from Tuesday) is accountability and teamwork and helping each other through the spiritual rough patches. Today’s verses are dealing with our ultimate responsibility before God.
Look, fellowship is important. Teamwork is important. Being there for each other–important.
But
Ultimately, your walk with God is your walk. No one can do it for you. No one can make the choices or pray the prayers or read the scriptures or spend the time. It’s yours, Beloved.
Comparing your relationship with God to someone else’s is pointless, for two reasons:
a) You don’t really know what’s going on in their head. People like to put the best face on things. We sometimes call that “lying.” Seriously, do you think all those Facebook smiles are real? When you compare yourself to someone else, what you’re really doing is comparing your real, flawed, honest down-in-the-depths-of-my-soul self to their social-media-plastic-smile-head-tilted-here’s-what-I’m-gonna-show-you-cause-there’s-no-way-on-Earth-I’ll-dare-let-you-think-I’m-not-as-cool-as-you-are surface self. You can’t compete with that…nor should you want to.
b) God has called you to your path, not theirs. And that is a glorious thing. It means that the Lord of the Universe has spent energy designing a life for you.
Yeah, you
So live that life.
Walk that walk.
Be that being.
Happy Thursday, Beloved.
If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself (Galatians 6:3).
Sometimes Paul’s teaching is really obscure, and it takes a lot of study and effort to glean his message.
This is not one of those times.
Let the sting ring, Beloved
Happy Wednesday
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).
Interesting how Paul says this right after talking about confronting a brother in sin. Whaddaya think? Connected, maybe?
Nah…
Yeah…
Remember that person in sin, the one you’re trying to rescue?
They’re trapped.
They’re struggling under a burden of doubt, of fear, of ignorance, of mistrust–you name it. You can’t just ride in like Sir Knight, slay the sin dragon, and ride off to the next adventure. You need to follow through.
You need to stay.
If God has called you to intervene, he has called you to do some heavy lifting.
Somehow–through prayer, through encouragement, through accountability, through instruction in the Word–you need to shoulder some of that load and help carry it to the foot of the Cross. The warrior must beat his sword into a plow and spend a little time working the soil.
It isn’t easy–which is why we don’t dive heedlessly into another person’s life.
But it is necessary.
Hey, if we were meant to do this alone, our hands wouldn’t fit together so well.
Happy Tuesday, Beloved.
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you may also be tempted (Galatians 6:1).
“Oh, but I could never get caught up in that.”
Yes, you could.
“No, really, I’d never–”
Yeah, well, you might.
“Trust me, there’s no way I would ever–”
Way. Big, fat, hairy way.
There’s plenty of analogies, Beloved.
Playing with fire
Walking too close to the edge
Eating one more piece of Christmas fudge
The point is, sin is seductive. That’s its nature. If you hang out with sinners in order to identify with them and reach them, you’re putting yourself in a dangerous place.
“Yeah, but Jesus did it!”
Yes, and he is Jesus.
Look, Paul doesn’t say not to go; he says to watch yourself. Be aware of your danger, and take precaution. A fireman willingly runs into a flaming building, but he carries oxygen so that he doesn’t have to breathe the smoke.
We are called to His work, so do what you gotta do, but do what you gotta do so you can do what you gotta do.
Got it?
Happy Monday, Beloved.
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently (Galatians 6:1).
You know how when a person has a dislocated shoulder on TV someone grabs their arm and practically rips it out of the socket to reset the joint?
It’s not like that.
Nor is it like old-school CPR, where you beat the snot out of the person’s chest to get their heart beating. It’s not even like ripping the bandage off and taking half their arm hair with it.
No, it’s more like when the Lord appeared to Elijah–not in the tempest, not in the earthquake, not in the fire, but in the gentle whisper.
You don’t have to scream to be heard. You don’t have to beat them over the head with their sin to show them they’ve fallen. You don’t have to chest-punch them to touch their heart. The Holy Spirit can do just fine without your theatrics and need for vindication.
Remember, you’re on the rescue squad, not the demolitions squad.
Happy Friday, Beloved.