Vision for Mission: Nurturing an Apostolic Heart

Append i x

139

The Laws of Sowing and Reaping, continued

Many nervous and emotional disorders are the accumulated results of years of self-indulgent living. I am not thinking of the drunkards and the libertines, but of the respectable Christians who probably would be horrified at the thought of touching liquor or of indulging in gross immorality. But they are nevertheless undisciplined, and the fatal weakness is unmasked in the day of trial and adversity. A lifelong pattern of running away from difficulties, of avoiding incompatible people, of seeking the easy way, of quitting when the going gets rough finally shows up in neurotic semi-invalidism and incapacity. Numerous books may be read, many doctors and preachers consulted, innumerable prayers may be offered, and religious commitments made; the patient may be inundated with drugs, advice, and costly treatment, and spiritual scourgings; yet none lay bare the real cause; lack of discipline. And the only real cure is to become a disciplined person. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, [11] so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. ~ Isaiah 55.10-11 ~ Richard Taylor. The Disciplined Life .

I. Law One: You Will Reap What You Sow.

A. The biblical support

1. Gal. 6.7-8 – 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 corrup tion, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

2. Eccles. 11.1 – Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.

3. Matt. 10.42 – And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.