Don’t Lose Heart 不要灰心
Dexu Xia
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
Today's Insights The letter to the Galatians wasn’t written to a single church or city but to “the churches in Galatia” (1:2), a region of what was then known as Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). There’s been an ongoing debate regarding the exact location of the recipients of this letter. Some scholars say the letter was directed to northern Galatia. Others say it was directed to southern Galatia, where Paul planted churches (Acts 13-14). Although the letter’s specific destination is unclear, there’s no doubt about its message. Paul is challenging the Galatians to set aside the teaching of those who taught adherence to Moses’ law as a condition of salvation. It’s all about grace. Bill Crowder
Today's Devotional Weary. That’s how Satya felt after nine months in his new job. As a believer in Jesus, he’d sought to follow God’s principles in the way he solved problems and directed the work. But people-related problems persisted, and little organizational progress seemed to have been made. He felt like throwing in the towel.
Perhaps, like Satya, you’re feeling tired. You know the good that you ought to do but simply feel too emotionally and physically drained to carry on. Take heart. The apostle Paul encourages us with these words: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). He uses the metaphor of a farmer. And, as any farmer knows, sowing is hard work.
Sowing to “please the Spirit” (v. 8) is hard work too. Believers in Jesus who seek to follow the Spirit’s lead and live a life that honors Him can grow faint and lose heart. But as we hang on to His promise, the harvest will come. We’ll “reap eternal life” (v. 8; see John 17:3)—a bumper crop of God’s blessing when Christ returns, and in this life, we’ll have the confidence and joy that come from knowing Him. We’ll reap at the proper time, a time determined not by seasons or the weather but by the will of a perfect God. Until the harvest comes, let’s keep sowing in God’s strength.
Reflect & Pray
What’s causing you to lose heart? How can you hang on to the promise that “at the proper time we will reap a harvest”?
Dear Father, please help me to not lose heart and to persevere in doing good.
我们行善，不可丧志；若不灰心，到了时候就要收成。加拉太书 6:9
今日经文：加拉太书6章1-10节
今日心得 加拉太书不是写给某个教会或城市的，而是写给“加拉太众教会”（1:2），当时该地区被称为小亚细亚（现代土耳其）。关于这封信收件人的确切位置一直存在争议。一些学者说这封信是写给加拉太北部的教会。另一些人说是写给加拉太南部教会的，保罗在那里建立了教会（使徒行传 13-14）。虽然这封信的具体目的地不清楚，但它的信息是明明白白的。有人教导加拉太人遵守摩西律法是得救条件，保罗要他们放弃那些教导。一切都是关于恩典。比尔·克劳德
今日灵修 疲惫！这就是萨蒂亚在新岗位上工作九个月后的感受。作为耶稣的信徒，他一直试图遵循上帝的原则来解决问题和指导工作。但与人有关的问题仍然存在，机构似乎没有取得什么进展。他想放弃。
也许，你就像萨蒂亚一样，感觉很累。你知道自己应该做的好事，但只是觉得情绪和身体上太疲惫了，无法继续下去。振作起来。使徒保罗用这些话鼓励我们：“我们行善，不可丧志；若不灰心，到了时候就要收成。”（加拉太书 6:9）。他用了一个农夫的比喻。任何农民都知道，播种是艰苦的工作。为了“取悦圣灵”（8节）而播种也是艰苦的工作。耶稣的信徒寻求跟随圣灵的引导，过着荣耀他的生活，可能会变得虚弱和灰心。但只要我们坚持他的应许，收获就会到来。我们将“收获永生”（8节；见约翰福音 17:3）基督再来时，上帝赐予的丰收，在今生，我们将拥有因认识他而来的信心和喜乐。我们将在适当的时候收获，这个时间不是由季节或天气决定的，而是由完美上帝的旨意决定的。在收获到来之前，让我们继续依靠上帝的力量播种。
反思和祈祷 是什么让你灰心丧气？你如何能对“在适当的时候，我们将收获”的应许坚信不移？
亲爱的天父，请帮助我不要灰心丧气，坚持行善。