Galatians Chapter 6: Doing Good to All
Key Verses: (Galatians 6:1–10)
1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently…2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
7 …A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Daily Message:
In this final chapter of Galatians, Paul touches on an important topic for those in the Christian community of Galatia and for those of us in our own faith communities today. Paul encouraged the men and women of Galatia not to deal harshly with those who were sinning because they were still learning to live new lives in Christ. Instead, Christians are to restore (or mend) people gently, with kindness and love. And by carrying the burden of others, we fulfill the law of Christ to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
In verses 7 and 8, Paul applied the farming analogy of reaping what we sow to the moral and spiritual realms. Those who sow to please the desires of the flesh will reap destruction, while those who sow to please the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Paul’s point in verses 9 and 10 is that throughout the lives of believers, we have the opportunity — and indeed the privilege — to serve others in Christ’s name. Our love for others is the primary test of our love for God.
A Moment to Reflect:
Has a fellow believer ever confronted you about sin in your life? How did you react to it? Was it done with love and gentle kindness, or was it judgmental? If the opportunity presents itself to you, can you rely on the Spirit to guide your words?
Do you have examples in your own life of destruction reaped by acts of the flesh? In the future, in what tangible ways can you sow to please the Spirit and thereby reap eternal life?