FOCUS VERSE Galatians 6:8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.
Galatians 6:7-10
Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!— harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.
Our addictions and compulsions have consequences. For periods in our using we may have been able to fool ourselves that we were ‘doing alright’ But when the consequences of our behaviors, beliefs and attitudes caught up with us there was no denying the truth. ‘How we were living what we were doing was not helping anyone’ (including ourselves) We need to take steps to change our behaviors, beliefs and attitudes. And we need to do it now! If we haven’t already.
Recovery is based on ‘service’ to others and to God. Sharing our experience, strength and hope with others is therapeutic. However, there is more than talk required. We are called on to be practical in our assistance to others. This will include our time, talents and yes our finances. Charecteristically ‘service’ requires all that we ar There are people we will meet as we move aloing the ‘recovery road’ who are relying on us and it’s up to us not to let them down.
We need to have the right motivation when it comes to sevice to God and others. Our ego boosting or reward seeking through the process of ‘service’ to others and to God are unacceptable. Unwillingness to extend ourselves beyond certain levels questionable. As we empty ourselves God wants to fill us again. In order that He might use us to glorify Jesus. That is the way He operates filling empty vessels.
There is a quote I read from H.W. Collins. Its says Help me to serve with pure motive. With no thought of gain to me. Drive me on and into action, I’m to prone to count the cost.
In recovery we learn to accept responsibility for our behaviors, beliefs and attitudes. We come to relise that what we do has consequences. Hosea 10:12 says, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’ Making a list of those we need to become willing to forgive and make restituiton to is a step to planting good seeds of righteousness. In time through service to others and to God we will harvest a crop of love as we walk daily in God’s presence and service to others.
sharing my experience, strength and hope. 