The Living Word

Isn't it amazing how you can read the same Bible verses throughout the years but they mean different things to you in different seasons in your life?  This morning as I opened my Bible God gave me the words I needed to hear.  This morning I turned to Galatians 6:
"1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. 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."

It isn't that I hadn't read these verses before, but they took on new meaning as I read them this morning.  Do you ever find that you compare yourself with other people?  Me neither.  Just checking to see if you do.  Do you ever get tired of trying to do the right thing and feel like you don't see the results you'd hoped for?  Me neither.  Not that I needed these words or anything. 
OK, so maybe I have been feeling a little weary lately and wondering if I make any difference with some of the things I'm involved in.  But here's the thing: it doesn't really matter if I see the results because I don't really know what God is doing behind the scenes.  God has a plan for everyone and there are things at work that I can't see or know about.  Do you ever wish you could look into other people's hearts and see what they really think and feel?  It might be more gratifying for us, but we might also get puffed up with pride and think that we ourselves are the ones doing the work and not God doing a good work through His people. 
And perhaps I just might look at other people and compare myself with them...good, bad or indifferent.  I just might wish that I could be more like them, abandoning the call God has placed on my own life because at times it seems difficult or perhaps I don't see the point in what I'm doing.
I may not always know the how or why of God's plan, but I do know something.  God is faithful and He gives us what we need, when we need it.  His love and mercy extend farther than we can imagine, much more than we could ever deserve and He keeps His promises.  I am so blessed to serve such a good God.