This morning at Baxter, I had the opportunity to visit at breakfast with brother Jorge Quijano, a Baxter graduate from the early days in Honduras, now working in Belize and Mexico. Our conversation turned to the nature of the Christian life and the many blessings that are part of our lives as Christians. Jorge said, “In many ways the Christian life is easier than the life many live in the world.” When I asked him why, he quickly answered, “Because we reap what we sow.”
As I read Galatians 6, I see that we not only reap what we sow, we reap more than we sow. When we are people of suspicion wondering what others are thinking, others are more prone to think likewise about us. We reap what we sow. When we sow peace, we reap peace. When we sow conflict, we reap conflict. When we sow joy, we reap joy. When we sow faith and evangelism and love, we reap the same. When we sow a deep love for the Word of God and the example of hours spent with that Word, we reap the same.
Little by little a church becomes like its leaders as they share (sow) their own lives among the brothers and sisters. Preachers and elders do well to ask themselves what they are sowing. When one wonders why a church is like it is, the answer is usually “because the leaders are that way.”
When a church is evangelistic, it is because the leaders set the example. When a church is studious and loves the word of God, it is because of the example of the pulpit and Bible teachers. At Park Plaza, we are blessed with Mitch’s preaching and example. Mitch is a student of God’s word, and he shares a heart of service and discipleship. A church influenced by people of faith, encouraged in good works, evangelism and missions, will see the same spirit among the members. The church works because of the teaching received and the examples observed.
As we go forth this day, may we be careful about what we sow. Remember, we will reap the same.