Rejoice! 1 Peter 1:3-9

 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.—Luke 1:49

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.—1 Peter 1:3-5

Our joy comes from our eternal relationship with our God. May we who believe gratefully give Him all of our praise and adoration!  He has done great things for us and we are glad!  He has forgiven our sins, redeemed our lives from destruction and crowned us with His loving kindness and tender mercies. We who have been born again are spiritually transformed, renewed and set apart for His purpose. His grace and peace are ours in increasing abundance as we draw nearer and nearer to Him daily.  We have an ever-living hope and confident assurance through Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. He has given us an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, unfading, and reserved in Heaven for us!  Not only that, but we are also being KEPT, PROTECTED AND SHIELDED by the POWER OF GOD through our faith!  He hedges us behind and before and lays His hand on us.  There is no where we can flee from Him.  No matter where we go His hand leads us and holds us.  Even the night, His word tells us, is light about us. True saving faith is permanent. No one can steal our treasure and no one can keep us from receiving it. God has qualified us...No one can disqualify us.  (See Romans 8:31-39)

In all of this we can rejoice even though now for a “little while” we are distressed by various trials.  Why?  Because tried faith is precious faith. One of God’s purposes in allowing trouble is to test whether our faith is real.  That testing is not for Him but for us.  When we come through a trial still trusting the Lord, we are assured that our faith is genuine. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 1:7 that genuine faith is more precious than gold which is perishable. We will be tested.  We will be purified by the fires of trouble, but the resulting genuineness of our faith will praise Him and bring Him glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  And THAT makes it all worth it. 

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2, ESV)

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.  (Job 23:10, ESV)

Though we have not seen Him, we love Him.  Though we do not see Him even now we believe Him and trust Him.  We can look past our troubles because we have our eyes on the heavenly...on the glory of our God. The outcome...the consummation of our faith is the salvation of our souls. Beloved, rejoice and delight with inexpressible and glorious joy!

Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,

And naked shall I return there.

The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;

Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.—Job 1:20-22

Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”

2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.

5 And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the ladfn and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”

6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.

7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.

9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.

10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

11 But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.”

12 And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”—Genesis 22:1-12

Work in Me...Psalm 119:4-6

4 You have commanded us

To keep Your precepts diligently.

5 Oh, that my ways were directed

To keep Your statutes!

6 Then I would not be ashamed,

When I look into all Your commandments.—Psalm 119:4-6

You have commanded me to keep Your precepts diligently.  Your precepts O LORD, are right, they are the rejoicing of my heart.  Your commandment is pure, enlightening my eyes.  Oh Father!  I want this in my life...oh that my ways WERE directed by Your Spirit to keep Your statutes.   You desire this for me too...that I would fear You and keep all of Your commandments always.  You want this because You love me and want what is best for me. You desire my good. You want it to be well with me...I love that  that is Your heart toward me!  Obedience is the path of blessing!  Write Your law upon my heart.  The steps of a good man are ordered by the You, and You delight in his way.  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For you uphold him with Your hand. Uphold me, Father, with Your righteous right hand. May Your word be to me a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.  In Your grace to me keep my conscience tender...keep me abiding, respecting Your commandments and unashamed before You. Make me perfect in every good work to do Your will.  Work in me what is well pleasing in Your sight.   

Proverbs 28:5

Evil men do not understand justice,

But those who seek the LORD understand all.—Proverbs 28:5

Jeremiah says it best here:

"For My people are foolish,

They have not known Me.

They are silly children,

And they have no understanding.

They are wise to do evil,

But to do good they have no knowledge."—Jeremiah 4:22

Evil men do not comprehend justice because justice is not in their DNA. The Spirit of God does not live and reign in their hearts giving them the light of the glory of the knowledge of God in the face of His Son, Jesus. Therefore, they don’t care about justice...they only care about getting what they want..no matter the cost.  Truly as James says:

For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.—James 3:16

But those who seek the LORD have the Spirit of God dwelling in their hearts.  They have the mind of Christ and are daily being transformed into His image. They understand all. 

Our God is a just God...it is a part of who He is. As His followers then, we are not only to desire justice for ourselves, but are to desire it for others as well. 

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,—Philippians 2:3-5

Beloved, we cannot then be indifferent to the suffering that goes on around us. Pray for truth to be revealed.  Pray for hearts to be changed.  Pray for the persecuted, the oppressed.  The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Bear the burdens of those to whom God has sovereignly placed in your path and so fulfill the law of Christ.  Love others with the self-sacrificing love of God.  Love does no harm to a neighbor and therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.  

Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"?  6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

"God resists the proud,

But gives grace to the humble."

7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.—James 4:4-10

The following cross reference verses for Proverbs 28:5 illuminate its truth. 

The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this:  (Psalms 92:6, ESV)

39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,

40 "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them."  (John 12:39, ESV)

I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.  (Psalms 119:100, ESV)

If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. (John 7:17, ESV)

14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:14, ESV)

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5, ESV)

But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. (1 John 2:20, ESV)

But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie-just as it has taught you, abide in him. (1 John 2:27, ESV)

The Last Hymn that Jesus Sang...

 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.--Mark 14:26

The Talmud designated Psalm 113-118 as the Hallel...the praise psalms of Egypt.  Traditionally they were sung at Passover.  Psalm 136 closes the Great Hallel with 26 choruses of "His mercy endures forever." Both Psalm 118 and Psalm 136 speak of the Lord's everlasting mercy.  WHAT A PICTURE!  The precious Holy Lamb of God...singing of God's mercy knowing of what was to come...what a comfort this must have been to His heart as He went out to the Mount of Olives.

By the time you had sung through this psalm the mercy of Lord in all situations and circumstances was impressed upon your mind.   What a truth to impress on not only His Son's heart but also on His disciples' hearts who, in fear, would be scattered in a matter of hours..  How each one of them would need to remember this in the coming hours and days ahead.  The Lord's mercy endures forever.  And that was the purpose, to impress this truth upon the hearts of the people.  No matter what...God's mercy endures forever.  It also reminds me of a verse from James that speaks of patience and perseverance in times of trouble.

My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.  Indeed, we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.--James 5:10-11

The end of the cross was salvation for our souls...the conquering of sin and death and the exaltation of the Son of God .   God's mercy indeed endures forever...and the end intended by the Lord is very compassionate and merciful!  Beloved believer...neither your suffering nor your labor is in vain in the Lord.  It all has a purpose.  Remember who your God is when you get discouraged...dwelling on His character provides much comfort!  Psalm 136 is below...read and be comforted!

Thanksgiving to God for His Enduring Mercy

 ¹ Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
         For His mercy endures forever.
 ² Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!
         For His mercy endures forever.
 ³ Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!
         For His mercy endures forever:  
       
 ⁴ To Him who alone does great wonders,
         For His mercy endures forever;
 ⁵ To Him who by wisdom made the heavens,
         For His mercy endures forever;
 ⁶ To Him who laid out the earth above the waters,
         For His mercy endures forever;
 ⁷ To Him who made great lights,
         For His mercy endures forever—
 ⁸ The sun to rule by day,
         For His mercy endures forever;
 ⁹ The moon and stars to rule by night,
         For His mercy endures forever.  
       
 ¹⁰ To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn,
         For His mercy endures forever;
 ¹¹ And brought out Israel from among them,
         For His mercy endures forever;
 ¹² With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm,
         For His mercy endures forever;
 ¹³ To Him who divided the Red Sea in two,
         For His mercy endures forever;
 ¹⁴ And made Israel pass through the midst of it,
         For His mercy endures forever;
 ¹⁵ But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,
         For His mercy endures forever;
 ¹⁶ To Him who led His people through the wilderness,
         For His mercy endures forever;
 ¹⁷ To Him who struck down great kings,
         For His mercy endures forever;
 ¹⁸ And slew famous kings,
         For His mercy endures forever—
 ¹⁹ Sihon king of the Amorites,
         For His mercy endures forever;
 ²⁰ And Og king of Bashan,
         For His mercy endures forever—
 ²¹ And gave their land as a heritage,
         For His mercy endures forever;
 ²² A heritage to Israel His servant,
         For His mercy endures forever.  
       
 ²³ Who remembered us in our lowly state,
         For His mercy endures forever;
 ²⁴ And rescued us from our enemies,
         For His mercy endures forever;
 ²⁵ Who gives food to all flesh,
         For His mercy endures forever.  
       
 ²⁶ Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven!
         For His mercy endures forever.

I Will Praise Him...

 Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles!

Laud Him, all you peoples!

For His merciful kindness is great toward us,

And the truth of the LORD endures forever.

Praise the LORD!—Psalm 117:1-2

This morning grief and sadness overwhelm my heart.  The walls of ongoing, long-lasting, heart stopping sorrow have closed in and my heart feels crushed.  My hope in my God, however is strong...my Immanuel is with me.  He will never...no, not ever, leave me or forsake me.  His will for me is good and He changes not. He will perfect that which concerns me and make my crooked places straight.  He will enlarge my path under me, so my feet will not slip. I WILL rejoice in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.

The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.—Psalm 28:7 

I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.—Psalm 69:30

James 1:1-18

The following are studies I wrote about 10 years ago in the book of James for my daughters.   These links are in order and cover James 1:1-18. 

https://istwenty63.blogspot.com/2010/11/james-12-count-it-all-joy.html  

https://istwenty63.blogspot.com/2010/11/james-13.html  

https://istwenty63.blogspot.com/2010/11/ask-with-believing-heart.html  

https://istwenty63.blogspot.com/2010/11/trials-great-equalizers.html  

https://istwenty63.blogspot.com/2010/11/crown-of-life-james-112.html  

https://istwenty63.blogspot.com/2010/11/james-113-blame-game.html  

https://istwenty63.blogspot.com/2010/11/james-114.html  

I copied the first study here:  

The Book of James...Spiritual Maturity

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,


The Book of James - Introduction

James is such a practical book! It is where the rubber meets the road. Are we a hearer of the Word only? Do we really live what we profess to believe? What our hearts believe, will be reflected in our lives...our actions will follow the beliefs of our hearts. Our faith is something to be believed and acted upon. If it doesn't result in works and a changed life then our faith is dead. If we love God, we will obey His commandments.

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.


 James introduced Himself as a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.   He was also the Lord's half- brother and a pillar of the early church in Jerusalem, but he thought of himself as a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is  how we should see ourselves. We are here as God's servant by His grace to do His will.  We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

James was not a believer until after the death and resurrection of Christ.  (Mark 3:31-35 and John 7:1-5).What convinced James...the resurrection. (See 1 Cor 15:3-7)


James wrote to the 12 tribes scattered abroad ...the Christian Jews who were scattered in the dispersion during the first round of persecution.  Persecution that came from their own countrymen.  Interestingly, the Greek word scattered means "in the dispersion" and carries the meaning of scattering seed which is what happened when these Jewish believers were scattered abroad. Seed was sown in many places and much of it bore fruit. The gospel went to the Jew first.  It was rejected by the nation of Israel but many individual Jews did accept Jesus as their Messiah. The early church was comprised of mostly Jewish believers. Acceptance or rejection of Christ is a personal decision that each and every one of us makes.

Let's pause for a minute to remember that as a Jew they were rejected by Gentiles and as a Christian Jew they were not only rejected by their own countrymen but persecuted as well.  They were expelled from the temple which meant that they probably would have much trouble earning a living because a good Jew would no longer have any dealings with them.

We have looked at who James was and to whom he wrote to.  Now let's look at why he wrote. James purpose in writing this letter was to address spiritual immaturity, and he talks about several qualities that should mark the spiritually mature believer. Here they are, using Warren Wiersbe's words:  A spiritually mature believer is patient in testing, practices the truth, has power over the tongue, is a peacemaker, not a troublemaker, and is prayerful in troubles.  I absolutely love how (he) Warren Wiersbe, characterizes the problems that James dealt with.  He saw them as characteristics we see in little children.  Thinking of it like that makes it so easy for me to remember.  James looks at  impatience, talking but not living the truth, no control over the tongue, fighting and coveting, and collecting material things.

Okay...I just don't see these characteristics in little children.   I see each of them to some extent in me. Imagine, however, if these qualities were still as much a part of our character now as they were when we were young.  Suppose chastening had never occurred, or we never had to face the consequences of our actions and we always got what we wanted.  Without the trials, chastisements and consequences I received as a child I would be impossible to live with....selfish, unhappy, discontented, obnoxious and probably dangerous.  Without the Lord in my life, without Him in my heart I would be a slave to sin.  My life would bear fruit unto death not holiness.  

Hebrews 12:9-10 says: "Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?  For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. (emphasis mine) Looking at it from this point of view we can see how helpful trials can be.  As a child of God they reveal to us what we are trusting in, they lead us to our Savior and His word, they make us look up, help us to bear fruit.  In short, they mature us.  Our job is to surrender and let Him do the work in our hearts. 

God wants to produce His likeness in each of us. This necessarily involves suffering, frustration, heartache and confusion. Fruit needs rain as well as sunshine to grow.  God wants to make us mature and complete, not to keep us from all pain. Try to remember, however, that afterward trials will produce the peaceable fruit of righteousness if we allow ourselves to be trained by them. Keep your eyes on the goal....Christ-likeness.

Love
Mom

Addendum from 9/3/2013:  a bondservant (doulos) in its Hebrew sense it  is defined as a slave....one who gives himself up voluntarily to another's will.  It describes a servant who willingly commits himself to serve a master he loves and respects. (Exodus 21:5-6. Gal 1:10, Titus 1:1, A doulos is devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interest.  I. Love. That.

I Love the LORD!

I love the LORD, because He has heard

My voice and my supplications.

Because He has inclined His ear to me,

Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.—Ps 116:1-2

Then I called upon the name of the LORD:

“O LORD, I implore You, deliver my soul!”

Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;

Yes, our God is merciful.

The LORD preserves the simple;

I was brought low, and He saved me.

Return to your rest, O my soul,

For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.

For You have delivered my soul from death,

My eyes from tears,

And my feet from falling.

I will walk before the LORD

In the land of the living.—Psalm 116:4-9

Often when I read the psalms, I feel so grateful for their honesty.  Why do I love the Lord?  Color me shallow along with David...I love Him because He hears my prayers and answers them.  I love Him because He first loved me.  I love Him because He saved ME and wants a personal relationship with ME!  My love toward God is, in a way, a self-centered one. When I accepted His free gift of salvation, I brought nothing to the relationship but me and my ever present need.  God on the other hand brings it all and does it all.  So why, I asked myself, does this relationship even work?  Why don’t I become inured to His goodness and His steadfast love toward me which never ceases?  Why don’t I feel resentment toward Him because I owe Him big time and could never repay Him for what He has done?  Why don’t I take Him for granted and esteem Him lightly?  Why?  Because He has filled me with..

GRATITUDE!

Because He has replaced my heart  of stone with a new heart of flesh and has put a new song in my mouth.  I was brought low and He saved me. When God picked me up out of the pit and the miry clay I was helpless, desperate, and very much alone.  My sins had gone over my head...there was, in my mind, no remedy.  NO WAY HOME.   NO WAY BACK INTO HIS GOOD GRACES.  NO DO-OVERS.  “THIS MESS WAS SO BIG AND SO DEEP AND SO TALL. I COULD NOT PICK IT UP.  THERE WAS NO WAY AT ALL.”

BUT GOD...

who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved ME,

even when I was dead in trespasses, made ME alive together with Christ

What shall I render to the LORD

For all His benefits toward me?

I will take up the cup of salvation,

And call upon the name of the LORD.—Ps 116:13-14

“Thou hast loosed my bonds,"— “freedom from bondage binds me to thy service. He who is loosed from the bonds of sin, death, and hell should rejoice to wear the easy yoke of the great Deliverer.”

“I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving."

I will bring to my God the thanksgiving of my heart. My innermost being shall worship Him in gratitude.  I will make His footsteps MY pathway.  I will give myself to Him and then by His will to others in order that they might see the light that God shines in my heart to give others the light of the knowledge of Him in the face of Jesus Christ.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.—Romans 12:1

The LORD is My Helper...

The LORD is My Helper—Hebrews 13:6

There are many morning as I read the word of God and study Scripture that I am absolutely overwhelmed by God’s kindness to me.  This morning as I read this verse from Hebrews 13 was no exception. The LORD is my helper...All the heartaches, all the trials, all the dailiness and difficulties that accompany life in this fallen world dropped off my shoulders.  The. Lord. Is. My. Helper.  There were no words, just tears of overwhelming gratitude and relief.  I am not alone.  I will never be alone this side of eternity.  He is with me and dwells in me. He is my Helper.  Each and every one of His wonderful divine attributes are engaged on my side!  I can RELAX!  I can let down my guard.  I CAN cast all my cares on Him because HE CARES FOR ME.   

Cast your burden on the LORD,

And He shall sustain you;

He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.—Psalm 55:22

7 The LORD is my strength and my shield;

My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;

Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,

And with my song I will praise Him.

8 The LORD is their strength,

And He is the saving refuge of His anointed.

9 Save Your people,

And bless Your inheritance;

Shepherd them also,

And bear them up forever.—Psalm 28:7-9

Sow by Faith...

Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit;

So he who waits on his master will be honored.

As in water face reflects face,

So a man's heart reveals the man.—Proverbs 27:18-20

I have no idea what kind of labor is involved in keeping a fig tree, but I do understand that both our physical labor and spiritual labor bear fruit in our lives...what we sow we will also reap.  Our spiritual labor here on earth is very often hard, unappreciated and even at times, despised by those around us.  Press on and take heart.   God has got you covered. Our God strengthens and blesses those who wait on Him

Proverbs 27:19 above says the following:

As in water face reflects face,

So a man's heart reveals the man.  

The unbeliever’s heart is corrupt and bears the image of the earthly. We who believe have been sanctified by His Spirit...our hearts bear the image of the heavenly.  Be diligent then, to allow the Holy Spirit to keep your heart with all diligence by comparing it with the word of God and allowing it to guide you in His way.  

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.—Hebrews 4:12 

Beloved, sow to the Spirit. Our God honors those who serve Him faithfully saying...

Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'—Matthew 25:23

Sow knowing that it is God who gives the increase

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.—1 Corinthians 3:5-8

Sow knowing that our God is neither unjust or forgetful...

For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.—Hebrews 6:10-12

Sow knowing that God is not mocked...

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.—Galatians 6:7-8

Sow without growing weary...

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.—Galatians 6:9-10 

Sow in tears...

Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.—Psalm 126:5-6

Sow in Hope...

Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.—1 Corinthians 9:8-10

Sow with  view to righteousness...

Sow with a view to righteousness,

Reap in accordance with kindness;

Break up your fallow ground,

For it is time to seek the Lord

Until He comes to rain righteousness on you.

—Hosea 10:12

Sow bountifully...

Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;read more.

as it is written,

“He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor,

His righteousness endures forever.”

Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.—2 Corinthians 9:6-11

Sow with an eye on the prize...

The wicked man does deceptive work,

But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.—Proverbs 11:18

Sow knowing that judgment will come...

“They sow the wind,

And reap the whirlwind.—Hosea 8:7

You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice,

You have eaten the fruit of lies.

Because you have trusted in your way, in your numerous warriors,—Hosea 10:13

Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe." 16 So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.—Revelation 14:14-16