“Sowing and Reaping” 5-28-25

Many people do not realize that whatever anyone sows at anytime in life, regardless of how long it takes, that it comes back to haunt us. This includes those of us who are born again. Although we have a new heart, all the ugly sinful things we did in the past or continue to do will have consequences.

There are examples in the Word of God to help us understand what is written today. I will use David and Paul.

David was called by God; he was a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22), yet his adultery and murder (2 Samuel, chapter 11) caused several severe consequences throughout the rest of his life. The sword never left his house (2 Samuel 12:10).

Paul suffered from his sins prior to him being born again God told Ananias that Paul would suffer may things. Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.  And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”

As holy and righteous Paul practiced living, he also struggled with flesh issues as we all do.  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.  For the good that I will do, I do not do; but the evil I will not do, that I practice.  Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me (Romans 7:18-20). Please remember that the flesh is sinful, but the flesh is not the real you.

Some things were so bad, I don’t tell, but only what will benefit others, and prayerfully when the opportunity arise for the Lord to use their experience to help others.

Those who knew me way back when in my in my sinking in sin life, will tell they know God has definitely worked in me; probably the same with many of you, but this is my story. I stole, cheated, lived my life to what I considered the fullest; after all sin was pleasurable for a season (Hebrews 11:25).

But once I was saved, and reaping consequences manifested, I did not understand it, because my thinking was, once Jesus became my Lord and Savior the slate was wiped cleaned and everything would be peaches and cream.

Well, my bubble got busted, and it was so disheartening when the suffering; reaping the ugly sinful things I had sowed. After this was explained to me, my understanding became clearer. There are two main ways that Christians suffer; (1) From the past and present sinful actions. This is the flip (downside) of the coin. (2) Because of righteous living. This is the good side of the coin.

The good is doing the will of God; the bad is doing our own thing (ugly sin). Through the process of time, when I see the reason I am suffering from my past, I understand why, and accept it.

When I suffer for righteous sake, I also understand that, therefore I began to rejoice (Matthew 5:10-12) . Why? Because suffering matures us, it builds our character when we understand why. My brothers count it all joy when you fall into various trials,  knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect [mature] and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:2-4).

His handmaiden, Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org