Holiness is a Harvest

In a previous post, I began a discussion on the practical implications of walking by the Spirit (see Gal. 5:16). Walking by the Spirit will inevitably lead to increased care in the household of faith (Gal. 6:10). However, walking by the Spirit will also impact our holiness. Paul writes,

[7] Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. [8] For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. [9] And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. [10] So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Holiness is a Harvest

I read somewhere that holiness is a harvest. Pastor John MacArthur says, “The Christian has only two fields in which he can sow, that of his own flesh and that of the Spirit.” You reap what you sow.

John Stott says,

Every time we allow our mind to harbor a grudge, nurse a grievance, entertain an impure fantasy, wallow in self-pity, we are sowing to the flesh. Every time we linger in bad company whose insidious influence we know we cannot resist, every time we lie in bed when we ought to be up and praying, every time we take a risk that strains our self-control, we are sowing, sowing, to the flesh.

We cannot sow to the flesh daily and wonder why we’re not reaping holiness. We must choose which field we’ll sow. Again, Stott is helpful. He writes, “Sow a thought, reap an act; sow an act, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.” The harvest we get depends largely on the seed we sow.

Is our holiness hindered because we fail to ask God for help in our sanctification?

My family (ok, my wife) is working on a small backyard garden. I’m not sure of everything that has been planted. But here’s what I know: we’re not planting watermelon seeds, expecting an oak tree to blossom. We get tomatoes because we plant tomatoes. We get cucumbers because we plant cucumbers. You get the point. What we sow is what we’ll reap. We cannot sow to the flesh and expect holiness.

Tony Merida writes, “The books you read, the people you are with, the things you do for entertainment, and the thoughts you possess are acts of sowing. Are they of the flesh or Spirit?” We need to answer this question honestly today. Are our acts of the Spirit, or are they of the flesh?

Create Spiritual Habits

Hello. I’m Josh, and I’m a creature of habit. If I go to a Mexican restaurant, I’ll order chicken nachos. It doesn’t matter what Mexican restaurant I go to, that’s my order. If I order pizza, I get pepperoni. We have a coffee shop in the town I live. Without fail, when I walk up to the counter to order, I’m greeted with the question, “The usual?” Absolutely. I’m a creature of habit. I’m disciplined by default. I keep a rigid schedule.

If we wish to walk by the Spirit, we must make sowing to the Spirit a habit. C.J. Mahaney says, “A cross-centered life is made up of cross-centered days.” Holiness is no accident. But what patterns should we create?

We cannot sow to the flesh daily and wonder why we’re not reaping holiness

Preach to Yourself

More specifically, preach the gospel to yourself daily. The gospel isn’t reserved only for unbelievers. We never graduate beyond our need for the gospel. Christians and non-Christians need the gospel. What does it look like to preach the gospel to yourself? Again, Mahaney is helpful. He says,

It’s a matter of sitting yourself down, grabbing your own attention, and saying, “Hey, self, listen up! This is what matters most: You’re forgiven! You have hope! Your hope is based on the sacrifice of Jesus. So let’s not view this day any other way. Let this day be governed by this one defining truth.

Memorize the Gospel

I’m currently working on this. Have you memorized the gospel? More specifically, have you memorized Scripture that speaks to the tenets of the gospel? Christians are called to memorize Scripture. I know that seems daunting, but it’s possible. In Psalm 1, the blessed man is the one who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night (Ps. 1:2).

If we’re not careful, we’ll think that meditation is a Buddhist or Hindu practice. However, meditation is very Christian (but maybe not in the way you think). We think of meditation as a practice to empty one’s mind. In the Scriptures, the practice is different. Meditating on God’s law means filling one’s mind with the Word of God.

If we wish to walk by the Spirit, we must make sowing to the Spirit a habit

In the book of Joshua, we read, “This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it (1:8, emphasis added).” The meditation required by God to Joshua is the practice of storing up God’s Word in the heart and mind and rolling it over in the mind throughout the day.

Look at the why of the command. God says to do this so that you will be obedient. God desires His people to be holy. Again, holiness is a harvest. The psalmist says, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you (Ps. 119:11, emphasis added). Let’s memorize the gospel. Click here to learn more about Scripture memorization.

Here are some verses to get started on memorizing the gospel:

God (His attributes):

Exodus 15:11
1 Samuel 2:2
Nehemiah 9:6
Revelation 4:11
Romans 1:18
Exodus 34:6-7

Man (the sinner):

Romans 3:10-12
Romans 3:23
Isaiah 53:6
Romans 6:23

Christ (the rescuer):

Genesis 3:15
Isaiah 53:3-4
Romans 5:8
Romans 5:1
John 3:16
Galatians 3:13
2 Corinthians 5:21
Colossians 1:21-22

Man (Our response)

Colossians 3:5
Romans 10:9
Mark 1:15
Romans 12:1-2
1 Peter 2:9-11

Pray the Gospel

C.J. Mahaney writes, “The gospel should be at the center of your prayer life. The gospel makes it possible for us to approach God. The gospel gives us the confidence to pray boldly—we’re accepted in God’s beloved Son.” Is our holiness hindered because we fail to ask God for help in our sanctification? Christopher Gordon writes,

Since God has promised to us an open ear, prayer should be a top priority in the Christian life. A prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian. For this reason, every generation needs to be challenged to make prayer a priority in their lives.

Take Inventory of Your Life

Reread Merida’s quote. He says, “The books you read, the people you are with, the things you do for entertainment, and the thoughts you possess are acts of sowing. Are they of the flesh or Spirit?” What do we fill our minds and lives with? Who do we surround ourselves with? What do we listen to and watch constantly? Is it God-glorifying? As John MacArthur once said, “We should not be entertained by the sins for which Christ died.”

[8] Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. [9] What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you (Phil. 4:8-9).

Rely on God

This is difficult work. We cannot fall into the lie that we can go at this alone. We need God, and we need each other. Holiness takes effort. Contending for the gospel can be exhausting. Loving our brothers/sisters can make us weary. But listen to the Apostle Paul. He says, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up (Gal. 6:9).”

Don’t give up. There is a harvest to be had. We may not receive the full benefits of the harvest in this life, but we will in the end. Look to Christ. May we draw strength for the task by gazing to Christ. He is our example. He is the supreme burden-bearer as He bore our sins upon Himself on that cross, and He gives us the Spirit to fulfill the work of the ministry.

Because the tomb is empty and the throne is occupied, our labor is not in vain.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Josh Chambers

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