by Desiree Bustamante

Use your God-given opportunities to be loving and good to everyone.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.”
Galatians 6: 9,10 New Living Translation

This time of year, we always go to farmer’s markets to buy vegetables. There’s nothing like freshly picked chile or corn on the cob to celebrate the end of summer.

Planting and harvesting is immense work. Nurturing seeds through watering and fertilizing and protecting crops from pests and bad weather is a time consuming and challenging job. If farmers give up in the middle of the season, the weeds will take over and the crops will shrivel from lack of care. But gathering the mature crops from the field and selling them in the marketplace is truly rewarding.

Our actions can have a profound effect on another person. If we choose to sow grumpiness, selfishness or anger, others may feel they can spread the same negativity, and on it continues. If we show grace, kindness and love to each other, it uplifts people and encourages them to bestow the same qualities to those they intersect with.

On those days we are tired and easily frustrated, we must not give in to those feelings and become weary in doing good or encouraging others. When the Holy Spirit lays words or a mission on our heart to help another, we must listen and obey that call. We may never know what our sowing, nurturing or protecting may reap, but we trust the call from our master gardener, who uses us to bear good fruit for His kingdom.

Spread seeds of love and joy each day, even during the height of your storms, for you will reap a harvest of many blessings as you live for God.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado