Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one that sows to please the Spirit [of God], from the Spirit will reap eternal life."¹

I have borrowed today's title from Michael Josephson of Character Counts. In considering the shameful business leaders who have "cooked the books" in their accounting practices to make their company look far better than it was, and as a result hurt thousands of people, Michael wrote, "Consider the enormous shame that caused … [the] former vice chairman of Enron to commit suicide and write this note to his wife: 'I am so sorry for this. I feel I just can't go on. I have always tried to do the right thing but where there was once great pride now it's gone. I love you and the children so much. I just can't be any good to you or myself. The pain is overwhelming. Please try to forgive me.'"

While most of us would never have the opportunity to do what these business leaders have done, we do however need to be careful about our actions. For every action there is a consequence. If I sow deeds of kindness I will reap rewards of kindness. If I sow seeds of love, I will reap rewards of love. Or if I sow seeds of hate, I will receive hatred in return. And if I sow seeds of evil, I will in due course reap rewards of evil. Whatever we sow we reap.

So let's all think carefully about what we do. Our legacy depends on it. What do we want our loved ones to think about us when we're gone? And most important of all, when we get to the end of life's journey what do we want God to "think" and say to us? Will it be, "Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord?" Or will it be, "Depart from me for I never knew you?"

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to live with eternal values in mind realizing that what I sow in this life, I will not only reap the rewards/results of it here and now, but also in the life to come. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Galatians 6:7-8 (NIV).

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