Galatians 6:9 – Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (NIV)

Lucy, our old goat, and Mama, our old horse, have one thing in common: they suffer from arthritis. What they don't have in common is their attitude about their medication.

Lucy accepts the apples dipped in the powdered medication with relish, munching and crunching her way through them. Mama, however, turns her nose up at any and all such offerings, refusing to ingest that which would bring her the reward of pain relief.

The difference between these two creatures has often made me wonder if I might at times be doing the same thing as Mama, in regard to a certain aspect of my Christian walk. Let me explain.

People are marvellous. They are made in the image of God. And yet, is it just me, or have you, too, noticed what a total pain they can be from time to time. Their actions can be most painfully annoying, inconsiderate, rude, frustrating, obnoxious, and counterproductive.

And yet what does God say? Love your neighbour as yourself, and do not become weary in doing good. Mmmm … yeah, right … that's a bit of a bitter pill to swallow. That's what I sometimes think about some of my so-called neighbours and these commands. And yet, the psalmist has written:

Psalm 119:103 – How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (NIV)

He had obviously lived long enough and had been obedient enough to know that all of God's commands, all of His words, are good and right and lovely and reap a wonderful harvest if we will only choose to ingest and employ them as we should.

So, the next time I find my neighbours' actions painfully annoying, frustrating, rude, obnoxious, inconsiderate, and counterproductive, I am going to choose rightly. Like Lucy, the goat, I am going to take the pain relief medication God is offering me. I am going to choose to love my neighbour as myself and not grow weary of doing good, believing that at the proper time, I shall indeed reap a harvest of just reward. How about you?

Prayer: Father God, help us this day to ingest and employ with relish the sweetness of Your words which leads to the health of both our own and our neighbours' well-being. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
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