Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

Keep On Keeping On

GALATIANS 6:9-10 – And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

 

THEME OF THE DAY:  KEEP ON KEEPING ON.  Jesus experienced it.  It happened in the encounter with the woman at the well – Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. And he had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour (John 4:1-6). John records that Jesus, wearied as He was from His journey.”  The verb to weary means to “exhaust, exert great effort, be tired, work hard” revealing the God-man knew the sacrificial demands of service fulfilling the will of His Father.

 

In today’s scripture, the Apostle Paul, who also experienced the weariness of toil for his Master, exhorted the believers in Galatia to “keep on keeping on” or “don’t grow weary in doing good.”  The reason for his instructions not to grow weary is because the temptation to do so is high.  And rightly so; to pray as God directs is exhausting warfare; to serve God’s people as we are commanded is exhausting labor; and to share the Gospel as the Great Commission directs is exhausting work. Yet, Paul would give us the motivation to “keep on keeping on” and not give in.

 

Right after the exhortation to not grow weary of doing good is the promise we will reap, that our labor is not in vain, and though we may not receive the visible fruit of our labor, the Lord is mindful of our doing good – For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do (Hebrews 6:10).

 

As strong as this motivator is for us to continue with zeal in the things of the Lord, there is one of greater importance, the greatest motivator of all.  It is found in Jesus’ words found in His Parable of the Talents, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21).

 

When we grow weary in well-doing, and are tempted to want to “take a break” or even give up, stop and think about that Day of all Days when we see Jesus and He says to us, surely with a smile, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your Master.”  Such thinking will energize us, and we will find ourselves motivated to “Keep on Keeping On” for the Lord Jesus.

 

PRAYER: “Father, may I not grow weary of well-doing as I anticipate the Day I see Your Son.”

 

QUOTE: “’Well done, good and faithful servant’ is enough motivation to keep on serving with zeal.”

 

In the affection of Christ Jesus,

 

Pastor Jim