My wife Pam and I volunteer two days a week at the Culpeper Food Closet and on the day between those two shifts, we shop for the Food Closet and do some restocking of the shelves. I don’t want this to sound like we’re doing something special; we aren’t. We love the people we work with, we care about the people who are struggling to find food to feed their families, and we find joy in participating with God in this wonderful local ministry. But guess what? Sometimes I get tired of doing it! I was thinking about how tired I was a few days ago when I came across today’s passage from the book of Galatians. 

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. (Gal. 6:9-10) 

I like this passage because it’s a great reminder for me. Do you ever get tired of “doing what is good”? I told you I do. I like doing what is convenient and what is fun but Paul tells the Galatians, and me, to keep doing good things. To encourage them, He writes, “At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Do you want to reap a harvest of blessing? I know I do. He goes on to say, “Whenever we have the opportunity we should do good to everyone – especially to those in the family of faith.” I think we Christians like doing good for other Christians more than we like doing good to “everyone,” don’t you? We might like to help family members or people at church or people we know well but the Bible tells us to do good to everyone. But wait – but what it they’re liberals? Well. do good to them. What if they’re conservatives? Do good to them, too. What if they don’t like me? Do good to them, as well. But what if I don’t like them? I think you know the answer: do good to them. Not only that, Paul tells them—and us—to do good to everyone “whenever we have the opportunity.” God’s Word is clear: you and I should always be looking for opportunities to do good things for others.  

Why? Because that’s what Jesus does…and being more like Jesus is always very Good News!