Eyes on Jesus – Day 5

Let’s make the most of our today. Let’s finish strong. Let’s make sure we are putting our time and energy into the right things. Let’s take a look to see what we can learn through today’s devotional.

Scriptures from Today’s Devotional:

‘Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in. ‘

Galatians 6:9

Let’s be the dads who are being filled and refreshed by God! Let’s be the dads who are leaning in on God and allowing the Holy Spirit to fill us to overflowing! Let’s be the dads who are receiving from Jesus as our fountain that never runs dry so that we can fill up to overflowing and pour into the lives of others! Being filled up, let’s be the dads who don’t grow weary or become discouraged from doing good! Let’s be the dads who keep doing good because we know that at the proper time we will reap the rewards God has planned and prepared for us! Let’s be the dads who don’t give in so that at the proper time we will reap the rewards God has planned and prepared for us!

Today’s devotional has been provided to us by Tim Ferrara (Discerning Dad) | Twitter, Instagram, YouTube | Linktree!

Reading through today’s devotional, here are some takeaways for me: (check out the devotional on your own too to see if you pick up other nuggets, and please share your findings in the comments)

For more information, please visit: https://linktr.ee/discerning_dad

Takeaways from Today’s Devotional:
“Invest in good works so that at the right time you will reap a reward”

• Do you get and understand the farming analogies or references in the Bible?
• Do you get the example of the seed being planted on different soils and can apply what it means in your life?
• Do you get how you have to put in the work in order to receive the reward or harvest?
• Today’s devotional speaks to this when it says:
  • “Farmers put a lot of time and effort into planting and cultivating a crop for an eventual reward—the harvest. The harvest not only fed their families but also allowed for them to pay for everything else, as well as to support the local community.“
• Let’s be the dads who realize our part in the lives and livelihoods of our wives and kids!
• Let’s be the dads who realize our part in the lives and livelihoods of our communities!
• Let’s be the dads who realize that in this world we will have troubles but that we can take heart because Jesus overcame the world!
• Let’s be the dads who realize that we can consider it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds because we know to ‘Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work so that you may be perfect and completely developed in our faith, lacking in nothing.‘ (James 1:3-4)
• Let’s be the dads who press in and do our parts, even when they don’t go our way!
• Today’s devotional shares an example of this when it talks about an old show called “Little House on the Prairie“:
  • “I think of the Little House on the Prairie series I used to watch as a kid. Pa would spend time planting, but then he might get hurt, or there would be a tornado, a frost, a storm, or any number of other tragedies that would make for a good episode. If a crop were lost, it was devastating to the family. The blood, sweat, and tears put into seeing the crop to harvest were all worth the effort because it meant food on the table.“
• Let’s be the dads who realize that we can control our part of the work (the sowing) but the rewards or the reaping will happen at the proper time, at God’s proper time that will be for our good and His glory!
• Let’s be the dads who realize that it means we may not reap in the same season that we sow!
• Let’s be the dads who are able to get beyond the instant gratification culture!
• Let’s be the dads who are able to wait upon the Lord and allow God to renew our strength through it!
• Let’s be the dads who are able to trust God rather than trying to lean on our own understandings so that He can show us what path to take!
• Let’s be the dads who are able to trust God rather than trying to lean on our own understandings so that He can make our path straight!
• Today’s devotional speaks to it this way:
  • “It’s easy to think in our microwave culture that if I don’t see the immediate results of my good actions (like tithing, being faithful, avoiding sin, or loving my neighbor) that they won’t come. However, God promises that the last will be first and the first will be last. We have an eternal reward but also earthly blessings if we follow God. However, we must remember to not make the blessing our focus instead of focusing on God.“
• Let’s be the dads who are focused on God rather than the blessings we think or hope to receive!
• Let’s be the dads who are focused on doing the good works God has prepared in advance for us to accomplish!
• Let’s be the dads who are focused on humbly serving our wives, kids, and world so that at the right time, He will lift you up!
• Today’s devotional closes with the following thought and this challenge to reflect upon:
  • “There are also consequences for sin; we will reap what we sow when it comes to unrepentant sin. Everything that is in the dark will be brought to light the Bible says (Luke 12.2). Even if it looks like we “got away” with something, we really didn’t. God sees all and even though grace can cover our salvation, it doesn’t prevent earthly results from our stupid mistakes. This is why keeping your eyes on Jesus and discernment are so important!“
  • “Reflect: What am I sowing now into my life and those around me? What is the future harvest that I can expect from my actions today?“