Tag Archives: the Sowing Principle

An Adult Who Actually Takes Responsibility for Their Actions?

Posted on June 3, 2023 by expressyourself4him

As I have traveled up and down the east coast of the United States, I see a common trend within adult leaders. Whether this is inside a church, local government or workplace, “do as I say, not as I do,” is demonstrated by daily actions. Subsequently, it’s rare when an adult actually takes responsibility for their own actions. While studying the life of Isaac, I was surprised by Rebekah’s actions in the passage below.

But Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Listen, Esau my brother is a hairy man and I am a smooth man. 12 Suppose my father feels me; I will seem to him to be a cheat and an imposter, and I will bring [his] curse on me and not [his] blessing. 13 But his mother said to him, On me be your curse, my son; only obey my word and go, fetch them to me, Genesis 27:11-13.

In this age of wokeness, discipline is now considered racist according to CRT. Subsequently, if rules are no longer able to be enforced, chaos ensues as crime rises. If America could return to their Judeo-Christian heritage, personal responsibility would one day become the norm again. As for now, there are hints of adults who actually take responsibility for their actions in the Bible like Rebekah.

Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked [g]by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and [h]that only is what he will reap. 8 For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life, Galatians 6:7-8.

While Rebekah tells her son Jacob, let any curse fall upon me, there’s another principle in play. The apostle Paul writes about the Sowing Principle in the passage above. You reap what you sow which also may explain the passing on of the sins of the father upon their children. Although Rebekah’s plan does accomplish her goal, Jacob’s life is filled with other people like Laban who deceives him as he deceived his father. While taking responsibility for any wrong action is important, don’t forget the consequences that will follow.

by Jay Mankus

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Why Blessings are Bestowed by God

Posted on April 30, 2023 by expressyourself4him

I grew up confusing blessings with luck. When one of your best friends in high school is an Irish Catholic and was one of the luckiest people I ever met, I had a good reason to be misled. However, as my knowledge of the Bible has increased, I now understand why blessings are bestowed upon human beings by God. Moses points this out in Deuteronomy 28:1-3 as blessings are a direct byproduct of obedience to God.

But the [d]Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, Abraham, Abraham! He answered, Here I am. 12 And He said, Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear and revere God, since you have not held back from Me or begrudged giving Me your son, your only son, Genesis 22:11-12.

Depending upon where you are spiritually when you read this blog, levels of faith tend to fluctuate. No matter how disciplined you may be, internal feelings play a factor in your degree of faith. Sometimes a bad stretch of circumstances, called tough luck, puts your back to the wall as faith is challenged unlike anything before in your life. In the case of Abraham, this propelled him to fear God, resulting in extreme obedience and blessings.

The Angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 And said, I have sworn by Myself, says the Lord, that since you have done this and have not withheld [from Me] or begrudged [giving Me] your son, your only son, 17 In blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore. And your Seed (Heir) will possess the gate of His enemies, Genesis 22:15-17.

Jesus references this in the Lord’s Prayer, also known as the Our Father, Matthew 6:5-15. Jesus places a similar condition on forgiveness. As long as you forgive the trespasses and transgressions of others, God will forgive you. Meanwhile, the apostle Paul compares this to the Sowing Principle in Galatians 6:5-8. Subsequently, as individuals adhere, listen and apply God’s Word, blessings will be bestowed by God. Become a doer of God’s Word and you’ll be surprised by the final outcome.

by Jay Mankus

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Closing Your Heart to Compassion

Posted on April 29, 2022 by expressyourself4him

One of my former pastors regularly preached about hurt people, hurting other people. Whenever you are betrayed, deeply hurt, let down and wounded, it takes time to heal. If someone rubs you the wrong way or is unrelentless about pressing you on an issue, you may reach a breaking point before exploding. This may explain why people close their heart to compassion.

But if anyone has this world’s goods (resources for sustaining life) and sees his brother and[m]fellow believer in need, yet closes his heart of compassion against him, how can the love of God live and remain in him? – 1 John 3:17

If you watch enough movies or streaming services, you will find a character who is jaded about a past experience. This one event may cause someone to develop barriers that prevents them from ever becoming vulnerable again. This fear of being hurt shows up in Matt Damon’s character in Good Will Hunting. Yet, the Bible is calling readers to open their hearts to compassion.

For if you forgive people their trespasses [their [g]reckless and willful sins, [h]leaving them, letting them go, and [i]giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their [j]reckless and willful sins, [k]leaving them, letting them go, and [l]giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses, Matthew 6:14-15.

Jesus provides a good reason to open your heart to compassion in the passage above. In the middle of his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus unveils a condition for forgiveness. Like the Sowing Principle, if you forgive others, God will forgive you. However, if you close your heart to compassion, God will withhold his compassion from you. May these words bring healing and inspire you to open your heart to compassion.

by Jay Mankus

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Going Back to Where You First Got Stuck

Posted on April 27, 2018 by expressyourself4him

Sometimes authors use their life experiences and settings for a source of inspiration.  Prior to writing the Shack which was first published in 2007, William P. Young was an office manager and hotel night clerk.  These unusual hours provided an opportunity for William to pour out his heart and soul into writing.  Young’s resolve was rewarded with a book and a 2017 movie with the same name.  One of my favorite lines in this film occurs during a conversation between Sam Worthington and Octavia Spencer.  A troubled father has an encounter with God when the Lord reveals, “Mack this is where you first got stuck.”

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken, Psalm 34:17-20.

To avoid a spoiler alert, I’ll let everyone who hasn’t seen the Shack to watch for yourself.  In the meantime, this sound byte reveals an important truth about life, at some point everyone get’s stuck.  Like a difficult math equation, it may take an extended period of time to solve this problem.  How you respond to this roadblock will impact your personal growth.  Those who give up, quit or walk away without discovering the answer will leave empty.  Anyone who persists, searches and receives the wisdom to obtain the correct answer will be able to move on, to live and learn.

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you, 1 Peter 5:7.

In 1988, Christian Icon Michael W. Smith released i 2 Eye.  One of the hit songs from this album is Live and Learn.  The lyrics refers to where human beings first got stuck, tempted by forbidden fruit.  Prior to this day, there was no sin, suffering or pain.  Unfortunately, Adam and Eve’s willful act of disobedience has planted seeds of darkness into human hearts ever since.  Thus, Michael W. Smith writes about the sowing principle, sowing fields of stubbornness in his life.  Depending upon your current life, you may be your own worst enemy, self destructing on your own.  Others may still be stuck from a tragic event from your past, unable to let go of the pain.  Whatever your situation, perhaps its time to find a shack, retreat and spend time with God alone so that you can grow and mature from the place where you first got stuck.

by Jay Mankus

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Serve or Be Served… The Latter is More Enticing

Posted on August 3, 2017 by expressyourself4him

When professional athletes struggle to reach their full potential, videos are examined to see what bad habits or flawed fundamentals are present.  Unfortunately, in life most people don’t have film to examine.  Rather, individuals are forced to rely on friends, self reflection or therapists to turn floundering careers around.

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap, Galatians 6:7.

One of the forces at work which determines positive or negative results in the Sowing Principle.  What comes around goes around is an earthly way to describe the biblical expression: you reap what you sow.  Essentially, if you serve others, the Lord will honor this decision by sending unexpected blessings in times of need.  Meanwhile, if the idea of being served by others entices you, the rewards for this choice will be temporary; resulting in a permanent void inside of your heart.

“Give and it will be given to you.  Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.  For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you,” Luke 6:38.

Jesus explains this concept to his followers in the verse above.  In the Parable of the Sower found in Matthew 13, Jesus uses the imagery of a harvest to illustrate this principle.  Those who are planted within a fertile soil, environment, production increases.  Thus, if you reach a point in life where you are disciplined, grounded and serving others with your God given gifts, it’s possible to experience bountiful blessings.  Yet, if you feed your sinful nature, pursuing selfish desires, temporary pleasures will quickly vanish leaving a trail of heart break.  The choice is yours.

by Jay Mankus

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The Greatest Virtue

Posted on July 30, 2015 by expressyourself4him

As adolescents become adults, its easy to become jaded, scarred by hurtful individuals who tear others down.  In additional, certain personalities do not mesh, resulting in irritation as well as uncomfortable moments.  Throw in those hungry for control or power and you will find hearts hesitant to forgive.

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, Matthew 6:14.

At the conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer, also known as the Our Father, Jesus introduces the reciprocal aspect of forgiveness.  According to the two verses that follow, forgiveness is not received unless it is first extended to others.  Similar to the Sowing Principle, you reap what you sow, forgiveness is conditional based upon the degree in which you forgive and forget the transgressions of others.

But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins, Matthew 6:15.

This perspective of forgiveness makes it one of the greatest virtues.  However, a lack of forgiveness can make it one of the most dangerous, resulting in eternal damnation.  Coping and dealing with personalities that rub you the wrong way can be excruciating, requiring extra grace to those annoying souls you encounter.  Yet, as the apostle Paul states in Colossians 3:12-14, the key to forgiveness is loving others as Christ loved us.  Therefore, ask God for a new heart, willing to forgive, forget and treat others as you want to be treated.

by Jay Mankus

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