Galatians 6: Harvest a Good Crop
Pastor Andrew Randolph | February 15, 2026
The Power of Becoming a New Creation: Breaking Free from Old Patterns
There's something profound about watching someone minister with their whole heart. When worship becomes less about our preferences and more about honoring the One we've gathered to celebrate, everything changes. This isn't just about music or style—it's about the posture of our hearts when we come before God.
Mary of Bethany understood this deeply. In one of the most extravagant acts of worship recorded in Scripture, she broke an expensive jar of perfume and poured it on Jesus' feet, then wiped them with her hair. The cost wasn't just financial—it was her dignity, her reputation, everything she held dear. While Judas criticized the "waste," Mary saw what truly mattered: ministering to Jesus was worth any price.
Sowing and Reaping: An Agricultural Truth for Modern Lives
We live in an instant gratification culture. Order something online, and it arrives the same day. Want entertainment? It's streaming at our fingertips. But the kingdom of God operates on a different timeline—one that ancient agricultural societies understood intimately but we've largely forgotten.
When you plant corn, you harvest corn. When you plant soybeans, you harvest soybeans. This seems obvious, yet how often do we live as though spiritual laws work differently? We sow into our flesh—endless hours of entertainment, pursuing our own desires, neglecting spiritual disciplines—and wonder why we're not experiencing the abundant life Jesus promised.
The apostle Paul puts it plainly in Galatians 6:7-8: "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."
The word "corruption" here carries the weight of decay. Think of a house built 200 years ago—solid and strong when constructed, but now showing signs of rot and deterioration. That's what happens when we consistently sow into the flesh. It doesn't happen overnight. The decay is gradual, almost imperceptible at first, until one day we realize we've drifted far from where we intended to be.
Where Are You Investing?
The question isn't whether you're sowing—everyone sows something. The question is: where are you planting your seeds?
Consider your time, talent, and treasure. These three resources reveal the true condition of your heart. Where does your money go? That's where your heart is. Where do you show up with your best effort? That reveals your priorities. How do you spend your hours? That determines your harvest.
The prophet Hosea offers this beautiful invitation: "Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you" (Hosea 10:12).
Fallow ground is land that's been neglected, left unplowed and unplanted. Perhaps there are areas of your life that have become fallow—relationships you've neglected, spiritual practices you've abandoned, dreams God placed in your heart that you've allowed to lie dormant. Today is the day to break up that hard ground and begin planting again.
Fighting for Your Harvest
Here's the challenging truth: you will always harvest what you plant, but you must fight to see that harvest come to fruition.
Paul continues in Galatians 6:9: "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."
The Greek word translated "grow weary" describes a soldier losing strength, a runner collapsing before the finish line, someone emotionally losing heart under pressure. It's the day-to-day grind that gets us—not the exciting planting season or the celebratory harvest, but the tedious work of tending the soil, pulling weeds, and waiting.
Think about starting a new job. Remember the excitement of day one? Everything was fresh and interesting. Questions flowed freely. You measured everything precisely, eager to prove yourself. But 90 days later, something shifted. The enthusiasm waned. Corners got cut. The work that once energized you became routine drudgery.
This pattern isn't unique to employment—it happens in our spiritual lives too. We start strong, full of passion and commitment. But when the initial excitement fades and the daily discipline sets in, we lose heart. We stop reading Scripture daily. We skip prayer. We pull back from serving. We stop fighting for our harvest.
The Power of Perspective
What makes the difference between those who give up and those who finish strong? Perspective.
Hebrews 12:1-3 provides the answer: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
When the grind becomes overwhelming, when you're tempted to quit, when the harvest seems impossibly far away—fix your eyes on the cross. Jesus endured unimaginable suffering for you. He was innocent, blameless, yet crucified so you could live in right standing with God. That perspective changes everything.
Bearing One Another's Burdens
Living the Christian life isn't meant to be a solo journey. Paul opens Galatians 6 with this instruction: "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
Notice the tenderness in this approach. The word "transgression" here doesn't refer to active rebellion but to someone who has simply veered slightly off the path. And the restoration should happen "in a spirit of gentleness."
Jesus models this perfectly in John 21. After His resurrection, He finds Peter—the disciple who had denied Him three times. Does Jesus condemn him? Shame him? Remind him of his failure? No. Instead, He asks three times, "Do you love me?" And with each affirmation, Jesus restores Peter's calling: "Feed my sheep."
That's the heart of Christian community—not condemnation, but restoration. Not shame, but renewed identity.
Three Questions for Your Harvest
As you evaluate your spiritual harvest, consider these three questions:
Who can you start lifting burdens for? Is there someone you can come alongside and serve? Perhaps you're new to faith and don't feel qualified. That's okay. Serve under the covering of established ministry where you can learn and grow while still making a difference.
Who is helping you lift your burdens? Who in your life is spiritually ahead of you in the race? Don't wait for someone to offer mentorship—pursue it. Find someone whose spiritual fruit you admire and ask them to invest in your growth.
Who are you sharing the gospel with? Who in your workplace, school, family, or neighborhood needs to hear about Jesus? Start praying for them daily. Begin cultivating the soil of their heart.
You Are a New Creation
Perhaps the most powerful truth in all of Scripture is this: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
You are not defined by your past failures. You are not the sum of your mistakes. You are not your addiction, your anger, your anxiety, or your fear. You are not the harsh words spoken over you by parents, coaches, or critics.
You are a new creation.
This isn't just religious language or empty encouragement. It's the fundamental reality of what happens when Christ transforms a life. The old patterns can be broken. The cycle of sin can be interrupted. The harvest of corruption can be replaced with a harvest of righteousness.
Today is your day to step into that new identity. Today is the day to start sowing into the Spirit. Today is the day to fight for your harvest with fresh determination and renewed perspective.
The same grace that was available to Peter after his denial is available to you right now. New mercies are waiting. A fresh start is possible. Your best days are not behind you—they're ahead, waiting to be harvested from the seeds you plant today.
What will you sow?