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. (ESV)

Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (NIV)

Dive Deeper

There’s a garden that sprouts quickly and takes little effort to get going. It grows tall fast. The other garden grows slower, taking root before you ever see anything green. 

For the first, its fruit is bruised and bitter, spoiling quickly. It hits the ground with a splat and feeds only the flies. It wilts in the heat.

The second—its fruit is ripe, full of life. It’s firmly rooted and lush. 

Each garden is fighting to cover more and more soil. To overtake the other.

Flesh vs Spirit.

Every thought that you have is like this seed. Where you sow it matters.

Sow to the flesh, and what initially seems like freedom ends in rot and decay. Instantly gratifying, yet fleeting. Patiently sow to the Spirit, and you’ll reap life. Not just one day in eternity, but here and now.

“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”
Romans 8:6

So don’t be fooled:
You can’t sow lust and expect purity.
You can’t sow pride and expect humility.

You can’t sow compromise and expect Christ.
You will reap what you sow. Always.

Sow surrender and you will reap security.

Sow sacrifice and you will reap love.

Contentment and you’ll have joy.

Trust and you’ll get patience.

Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self-control.
This is the kind of fruit that doesn’t rot. They all come from the seeds of obedience and faith.

So choose your seeds wisely and plant what will last.
Because the harvest is closer than you think.

Written by Keaton Hewitt