I recently had the privilege of teaching on Galatians (6:6-10) at our weekend services. I entitled the talk “The Harvest and the Fire.”
There is surely so much rich truth packed in all of these verses. But one of my favorite ones is verse nine. It says this:
“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
Sometimes, it’s hard to live our Christian faith in a consistent way. It’s often tempting to give up or give in to sin. But this verse reminds us that the Lord is in charge of the harvest. Additionally, we will reap a wonderful harvest of good (at the proper time) if we don’t give up.
Two stories I know of highlight this truth and encourage me. I trust they will also encourage you this week as you continue to live according to the Spirit. Remember, the harvest will always come in His time.
Waiting for the harvest with you,
Steele
Mr. Eugene — The School Janitor
In a small town in Tennessee, there was a school janitor named Mr. Eugene Sanders, who worked at the same elementary school for over 30 years. He was known for his warm smile, gentle words, and his habit of whistling old hymns while he worked. He made a point to learn every child’s name and would often give a kind word to the kids who struggled.
Mr. Eugene never stood on a stage. He never taught a class. But he quietly sowed seeds of encouragement, kindness, and steady faith every single day. He kept his Bible in his locker and often prayed over the classrooms while he cleaned.
In His Honor
When he retired, the school hosted a small assembly in his honor — but what happened next surprised everyone. Former students came flooding back, now adults — doctors, teachers, pastors, parents — each one telling stories of how Mr. Eugene’s simple faithfulness impacted their lives. One man stood up and said, “When I was a kid, my dad left. I felt invisible — except to Mr. Eugene. He always told me, ‘God’s got big plans for you, son.’ I’m standing here today because he believed in me.”
Another woman said, “I was bullied, and I remember hiding in the hallway one day, crying. Mr. Eugene knelt down and said, ‘You are precious to God. Don’t ever believe anything else.’ Those words carried me through some of my darkest days.”
Decades of simple, steady, quiet goodness had produced a harvest far beyond what Mr. Eugene ever imagined.
You may not see the results today. But your daily faithfulness — the smile you offer, the kindness you show, the prayers you pray — are seeds in God’s hands, and He never wastes them.
Bamboo Trees
Chinese bamboo takes five years to break the ground. During those five years, the farmer waters and nurtures it daily — even when there’s no sign of growth. But in the sixth year, it shoots up 90 feet in just weeks.
(You may feel like nothing’s happening. But underground, God is preparing something greater than you can see. Don’t grow weary.)
Posted in A Word from the Pastor