2 Kings 2:15-18 ESV

15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him opposite them, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. 16 And they said to him, “Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men. Please let them go and seek your master. It may be that the Spirit of the Lord has caught him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley.” And he said, “You shall not send.” 17 But when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, “Send.” They sent therefore fifty men. And for three days they sought him but did not find him. 18 And they came back to him while he was staying at Jericho, and he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”

15 At nang makita siya sa may di-kalayuan ng mga anak ng mga propeta na nasa Jerico, ay kanilang sinabi, “Ang espiritu ni Elias ay na kay Eliseo.” Sila'y lumapit upang salubungin siya at nagpatirapa sa lupa sa harapan niya. 16 Kanilang sinabi sa kanya, “Tingnan mo, ang iyong mga lingkod ay may limampung malalakas na lalaki. Hayaan mo silang humayo, at hanapin ang inyong panginoon. Baka tinangay siya ng Espiritu ng PANGINOON at inihagis sa isang bundok, o sa isang libis.” At kanyang sinabi, “Hindi, huwag mo silang susuguin.” 17 Subalit nang kanilang pilitin siya hanggang sa siya'y mapahiya, ay kanyang sinabi, “Suguin sila.” Kaya't sila'y nagsugo ng limampung lalaki, at naghanap sila sa loob ng tatlong araw, ngunit hindi siya natagpuan. 18 Nang sila'y bumalik sa kanya, samantalang siya'y naghihintay sa Jerico at kanyang sinabi sa kanila, “Di ba sinabi ko sa inyo, huwag kayong humayo?”

THE FUTILE SEARCH.

The sons of the prophets met Elisha and bowed to the ground before him. By this act, they acknowledged that the succession of Elisha as a full-pledged prophet took place. But, it is puzzling why they insisted to search for Elijah. If Elijah has been taken up into heaven, why look for him on earth?

The answer lies in their ignorance of what really had happened. Only Elisha had seen him taken by a chariot and horses of fire like whirlwind. This was the very requirement for Elisha to receive the blessing he requested from Elijah, that was, a double portion of his spirit. The sons of the prophets did not. They were bystanders at a far distance.

Let’s be like the Bereans to search the scriptures diligently. But, if something is incomprehensible. God meant it to be a secret. And we should accept it as it is. [Deut 29:29] Moreover, it is an important thing to note is for us not to be obsessed for the sole purpose of understanding. But, it is in our desire for obedience. To their knowledge, Joshua did not, after all, succeed until Moses was dead? And, have they not seen Elisha tearing down his clothes as a sign of grief? There are no easy answers.

One thing we can learn is to trust God’s word as declared even though at times it is incomprehensible. Sometimes like the sons of the prophets, we waste time in spending so much time to understand rather than obeying His revealed word simply. Had they received Elisha’s words, they should not have wasted their time in a futile search of Elijah.

Let’s be like the Bereans to search the scriptures diligently. But, if something is incomprehensible. God meant it to be a secret. And we should accept it as it is. [Deut 29:29] Moreover, it is an important thing to note is for us not to be obsessed for the sole purpose of understanding. But, it is in our desire for obedience.

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2 Kings 2:6b-14 ESV

So the two of them went on. 7 Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8 Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground.

9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” 10 And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” 11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more.

Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13 And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.

A DOUBLE PORTION IN SPIRIT.

Elisha followed Elijah with 50 sons of the prophets until they arrived at the bank of Jordan river. Elijah rolled his cloak and by it touched the water. And the river parted so that he and Elisha crossed over on dry ground. A reminiscent of Moses and Joshua crossing the Red Sea and Jordan River in the past. God can do a repeat to remind us of Himself and His power. A miracle of two would be enough for us to be convinced but a third one has sealed it.

When asked what he wanted, he said unhesitatingly to Elijah, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” He was as a son asking from his father his inheritance. Only that it was not a land, but in spirit. From a busy farmer living a normal life, Elisha left all in exchange for the call.

After he saw Elijah being caught up by a chariots and horses of fires like a whirlwind, he received what he asked for. He, then, tore his clothes into two pieces. Perhaps, he was sad upon seeing Elijah having gone. And, by the cloak that Elijah left for him, he touched the waters of Jordan as Elijah did. And, it parted again so that he walked back in a dry ground.

What happened to Elisha was like Joshua following the leadership of Moses. It is so significant that both the names Joshua and Elisha mean “God saves or the Lord saves.” Success in leadership is in the effective and efficient empowering of the successors, who reflect the same spirit, even more.

Today, are we engaged in the cultivation of the passions and affections of others for the Lord Jesus Christ? Do we dream like Jesus that those under us will do more than what we are doing in their own time? Jesus said to his disciples, “ “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”[John 14:12]

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2 Kings 2:1-6 ESV

1 Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he said, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”

4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 5 The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”

6 Then Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.

A LOYAL SPIRIT.

Earlier, the Lord said to Elijah, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.”[1 Kings 19:15-16]

But, he discouraged Elisha to follow and stay close to him even in the last 24 hours on earth. This is quite puzzling. And, we have no clear reasons, except that Elisha was very clear and commited to pursue his calling. He was so committed to pursue it so that he burn his bridges behind. Let us recall that Elijah “found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.”[1 Kings 19:19-21]

He followed Elijah at Bethel and Jordan closely. Why? He said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” Similarly, Naomi discouraged her daughters-in-law Ruth and Orpah. Orpah went back but Ruth followed Naomi with determination, saying, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”[Ruth 1:16,17]

Elisha was fixated upon God. The reason to his loyalty to Elijah was because of God, who was behind Elijah. Simply put, he was drawn to God who can transform his life. This was the reason why he asked for ‘a double portion of his spirit.’ Undoubtedly, it’s only God who can do this.

Today, let’s keep ‘looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith’, not unto men. [Heb 12:2]

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2 Kings 1:9-18 ESV

9 Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty men with his fifty. He went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, “O man of God, the king says, ‘Come down.’” 10 But Elijah answered the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

11 Again the king sent to him another captain of fifty men with his fifty. And he answered and said to him, “O man of God, this is the king's order, ‘Come down quickly!’” 12 But Elijah answered them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

13 Again the king sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up and came and fell on his knees before Elijah and entreated him, “O man of God, please let my life, and the life of these fifty servants of yours, be precious in your sight. 14 Behold, fire came down from heaven and consumed the two former captains of fifty men with their fifties, but now let my life be precious in your sight.” 15 Then the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So he arose and went down with him to the king 16 and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron—is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word?—therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’”

17 So he died according to the word of the Lord that Elijah had spoken. Jehoram became king in his place in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, because Ahaziah had no son. 18 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

A STUBBORN HEART.

King Ahaziah should have humbly received and believed Elijah’s message that he heard from his returning messengers. But, he did not. Instead, as a king he summoned Elijah to come to him by a show of force. Thus, he sent fifty soldiers with their captain, who said, “O man of God, the king says, ‘Come down.’” Definitely, Ahaziah had maintained that he was more authoritative than the man of God, Elijah. This had displeased God so that Elijah replied, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Poor soldiers! For in a sudden they were consumed with fire.

This single act of God should have been enough for him to concede and humble himself. But, he sent another team of fifty with their captain to coerce Elijah. And God, consumed them again in the same fashion. He still did not learn his lesson. He sent a third team. But, they were spared because of the captain’s plead for grace and mercy.

The third captain was more commendable than Ahaziah because he has a soft heart. Unlike the unconscionable king, he was pleading not only for his own life but for his men. The king’s heart was as hard as an adamant stone.

Eventually, Elijah went to see Ahaziah only to pronounce the same message. God could have forgiven him should he was humble. Clearly, he wanted to be helped and healed by God. But, in his own terms. That, he should not repent of his sins and make things right. He died with a hardened heart. This was the start of the fulfilment of a sad consequence of Ahab and Jezebel’s sins about the death of their children. For God said to Ahab through Elijah previously, “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son's days I will bring the disaster upon his house.”[1 Kings 21:29]

Let’s check our hearts today. Let’s be humble like David in Psalm 51-17. He also prayed Psalm 19:13-14.

After the death of Ahab, Moab rebelled against Israel.

2 Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria, and lay sick; so he sent messengers, telling them, “Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this sickness.” 3 But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? 4 Now therefore thus says the Lord, You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’” So Elijah went.

5 The messengers returned to the king, and he said to them, “Why have you returned?” 6 And they said to him, “There came a man to meet us, and said to us, ‘Go back to the king who sent you, and say to him, Thus says the Lord, Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’” 7 He said to them, “What kind of man was he who came to meet you and told you these things?” 8 They answered him, “He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”

A POOR SUBSTITUTE.

Like father like son. In his two-year reign in the Northern kingdom, King Ahaziah was no different than his father Ahab. Notedly, Ahab, with Jezebel, had reigned as one of the most wicked kings in Israel. According to 1 Kings 22:53, “He served Baal and worshiped him and provoked the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger in every way that his father had done.”

He has had a strange accident by falling from a lattice [probably window] so that he got sick. In God, however, there is no such thing as an accident. God had humbled as a proud king to realize his need of God. Everyone is vulnerable and weak including kings and despots, isn’t it? Thus, he was desperate to find help.

Every experience of pain we have is allowed by God to humble us. Paul was given a thorn in the flesh to prevent him from becoming proud. Thus, let us perceive our hardships and pains as gifts from God. Otherwise, we will become conceited and forget God. That is why Paul’s admonition to be thankful in all our circumstances always is quite appropriate. [1 Thess 5:18] Humility that leads us to cast our total dependence upon God pleases Him the most.

Sadly, Ahaziah, during his dying moments, sought not God but Baal. Definitely, Baal was a poor substitute to Jehovah. He sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether he shall recover from this sickness. In God’s act of grace, He instructed Elijah to intercept the messengers and instruct them the message from God. His message to Ahaziah was a rebuke and reminder for him to seek Jehovah. Elijah said, “Go back to the king who sent you, and say to him, Thus says the Lord, Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’”[v.6] This is the similar act God did to Adam and Eve when they were hiding at the woods after they sinned. God went seeking and asked them where were they not because God did not see them bur them to see God.

Perhaps today, we’ve been proud and God has allowed chastening in our lives. He did it because He loves us. Thus, the writer of Heb 12:5,6 says;

“And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,

nor be weary when reproved by him.

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

and chastises every son whom he receives.”

Galatians 6:15-16 ESV

15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

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15 Sapagkat ang pagtutuli o ang di-pagtutuli ay walang kabuluhan, kundi ang bagong nilalang 16 Kapayapaan at kaawaan nawa ang sumakanilang lahat na lumalakad sa alituntuning ito, at maging sa Israel ng Diyos.

A NEW CREATION

In contrast to the Judaizers belief, the truth is that whatever status we are in and religious rites we practice, including circumcision, couldn’t earn favor before God. It’s not about sincerity about what you do for God. No good works so good enough that could wash away our sins. It’s only the pefect sacrifice of Christ at the cross. This re-echoed with Paul's dismissal of race, gender, or wealth has a meaningful effect to our relationship to God (Gal 3:23–29).

It’s through the new creation. That is, the supernatural act of God in giving us a new birth. In other words, it is completely a sovereign act of God. It’s incomprehensible but true that a sinner, once he repents of his sins and receives Jesus, is ushered into the family of God. John said, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” [John 1:12] For this, Paul concluded, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”[2 Cor 5:17]

Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a teacher of the law. Yet, the Lord Jesus had said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”[John 3:3] This is solely the work of the Spirit using the word of God. Peter said, “you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.”[1 Pet 1:23]

In contrast to the flesh, the Spirit gives life. As Jesus had emphasized, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all.”[John 6:63] Our status is determined by our relationship with the indwelling Spirit, who placed us into one body, the church. “Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.”[Col 3:11]

Someday, there will be a grand reunion of all the born again believers coming from all walks of life from all ages and from all corners of the globe. They will worship the Lamb before the throne. As they will hear the twenty four elders in unison who will proclaim;

“Worthy are you to take the scroll

and to open its seals,

for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God

from every tribe and language and people and nation,

and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,

and they shall reign on the earth.” [Rev 5:9-10]

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Galatians 6:14 ESV

14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Subalit huwag nawang mangyari sa akin ang magmalaki, maliban sa krus ng ating Panginoong Jesu-Cristo, na sa pamamagitan nito ang sanlibutan ay ipinako sa krus para sa akin, at ako'y sa sanlibutan.

GLORY IN THE CROSS.

One of the fundamental needs of man is the sense of purpose. As His children, it is the joy of fulfilling the will of God in our lives, is it not? The happiest person is one who knows that what he is doing right now and what he is supposed to do are one and the same thing.

There is no doubt that Paul was man of passion before and after his conversion. He was as a marauding lion chasing the followers of the “Way”. He was so determined to exterminate the Christians until he met the Lord in a hard way. He fell from his horse and became blind. Broken, he humbled himself, trusted the Lord and became one of the stalwarts of Jesus. He has unequivocably committed to the gospel, saying, “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”[Acts 20:24]

He had expressed that His life and existence is Christ. He said, “as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”[Phil 1:20-21]

What Christ has done to us at the cross should be our only boast. Nothing more. Nothing less. And, nothing else. As Paul had recognized, we are crucified in Him. And, He should be the one living in and through us. Paul had testified, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”[Gal 2:20]

Christ must be all or He is nothing. We can’t serve God and mammon. As the man who found the pearl of great price, we should be willing to let go of everything in order to embrace Christ, His cross and the gospel wholly.

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Galatians 6:11-13 ESV

11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.

11 Tingnan ninyo kung sa gaano kalalaking mga titik sumusulat ako sa inyo sa pamamagitan ng aking sariling kamay! 12 Ang mga nais gumawa ng magandang palabas sa laman ang siyang pumipilit sa inyo na magpatuli, upang hindi sila usigin dahil sa krus ni Cristo. 13 Sapagkat maging ang mga nagpatuli ay hindi rin naman tumutupad ng kautusan; ngunit ibig nila kayong magpatuli upang sila'y makapagmalaki sa inyong laman.

STAND FOR THE GOSPEL TRUTH.

Paul might simply have written the end of some of his letters in distinctive large handwriting as evidence that the letter was genuine. As some scholars had speculated, he had a failing eyesight so that his handwriting were larger than the rest. He understood himself to be writing with the authority of an apostle of Jesus Christ, and he wanted to minimize the ability of anyone to suggest the letter was a fake.

Again, he expresses that those trying to influence the Galatians to be circumcised were only doing so in order to make themselves look good "in the flesh." They sought to earn the approval of other Jewish religious leaders by the number of new Gentile Christians they can convince to be circumcised. Paul warned his readers not to buy into their lies.

Also, they insisted on circumcision because they were afraid of being persecuted by other Jewish religious leaders. They might had agreed that faith in Christ is necessary for salvation. But, to teach that circumcision is not necessary will draw a strong dislike from the religious leaders. Paul knew it by experience. Thus, they took the popular and convenient route to avoid trouble. However, Paul has emphasized clearly that faith in Christ and circumcision cannot go together (Gal 5:4). They, need to stand for the truth of the gospel.

Moreover, Paul says that these Judaizers are also hypocrites. Because the demand of the law is to be followed perfectly, nobody couldn’t be obeyed perfectly. Just a failure in obeying one law makes one guilty of all. (Gal 3:10–14). Thus, the only reason is for them to boast about their influence. In other words, the Galatian believers are just merely numbers to their roster as salesmen boast for having many customers.

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Galatians 6:9-10 ESV

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.

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9 At huwag tayong manghinawa sa paggawa ng mabuti, sapagkat sa takdang panahon ay mag-aani tayo, kung hindi tayo manlulupaypay. 10 Kaya't habang may pagkakataon, gumawa tayo ng mabuti sa lahat, lalung-lalo na sa mga kabilang sa sambahayan ng pananampalataya.

DOING GOOD ALWAYS TO EVERYONE.

Our God is characterized with goodness, is he not? God is good all the time. “For He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”[Matt 5:45] He is no respecter of persons. Similarly, we should be good to all, even to those who are hostile to us. As Paul said, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”[Rom 12:20,21]

Firstly, doing good involves persistence. Let’s not be weary in doing good. For in due season, we will reap if we don’t throw the towel. As the psalmist had expressed;

“Those who sow in tears

shall reap with shouts of joy!

He who goes out weeping,

bearing the seed for sowing,

shall come home with shouts of joy,

bringing his sheaves with him.” [Psa 126:5,6]

Secondly, doing good to our brethren in the household of faith is a priority. A culture that the first Christians in Jerusalem had displayed. “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” [Acts 2:44,45] Such action is a confirmation of the authenticity of love among the brethren. The apostle John has said, “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” [1 John 4:16-18] He who is in the furnace of God’s love will come out warming others with his goodness.

This provides an undeniable testimony to the unbelieving world. As Jesus has declared, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” [John 13:35] Certainly “the light that shines the farthest shines the brightest at home.”

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Galatians 6:7-8 ESV

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.

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7 Huwag kayong padaya; ang Diyos ay hindi maaaring lokohin, sapagkat ang anumang ihasik ng tao, ay siya rin niyang aanihin.

8 Sapagkat ang naghahasik para sa kanyang sariling laman ay mula sa laman mag-aani ng kasiraan; subalit ang naghahasik sa Espiritu, mula sa Espiritu ay mag-aani ng buhay na walang hanggan.

WHAT YOU SOW YOU REAP

Reaping what we sow is a law of nature. The seed kind we plant will germinate and grow into a plant with the same physical and genetic construct later. An avocado seed planted won’t grow and become a tree that will bear mango fruits someday. It’s just contrary to nature. It’s an impossibility.

This was the basic problem of the Galatians. They mixed up the Spirit and the flesh, which are fundamentally opposed to each other. [see Gal 5:16-17] The flesh could never result a spiritual fruit. Thus Paul had rebuked them, saying, “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” [Gal 3:3]

Reaping what we sow is also irreversible. Perhaps, some are emboldened to ‘sow in the flesh’ thinking they will escape or avoid from its consequences. Such persons are deceived and are mocking God. They act as though He does not exist, and is not coming back to judge them. Man may choose to mock Him. But could he prevent the consequences later? People may blaspheme and deride Him today. But, this is only for a time being. There will be a day of reckoning, and ultimately, a man reaps what he sows. They will deal the consequences of their choices someday. Indeed, ‘what goes around comes around.’ [an old proverb]

Today, let us yield to the Spirit always. As Paul said, “walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”[Gal 5:16] Consequently, His fruit will emerge in a multi-faceted manner of “ love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control.”[Gal 5:22-23]

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