In Galatians chapter 6 Paul wrote:
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
It is your decision whether you walk in the flesh or walk in THE SPIRIT. If you had no decision, these options would not be placed here to be contemplated. Those who would say you have no choice are disregarding many Scriptures similar to the one above. If you had no choice then what would be the point of most of Christ’s teachings?
Your decisions can be permissible but not profitable. FATHER will not force you to walk in Love but gives you the choice and the ramifications of that choice. Yes, HE permits you to choose death but urges us all to choose life. Paul urges us to choose life and walk in THE SPIRIT in chapter 5:
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
The last fruit mentioned is self-control: the ability to control oneself, in particular one’s emotions and desires or the expression of them in one’s behavior, especially in difficult situations. We each have a decision to “control” self on a daily basis. As we decide to no longer allow “self” to prevail, we will begin to gain strength in the areas of weakness. If you have problems in your thought life then say to your self “I am not going to think about this anymore.” and consciously focus on pure thoughts. This may take more than once to show your flesh you mean business.
The Law of sowing and reaping began when FATHER created the earth and continues to this very day. If you sow blessing toward others, you reap blessing in your life. If you are constantly plagued by turmoil, consider your past words and actions for there is probably where you will find the seeds that are now producing fruit. If you sow fleshly seed you will reap corruption as Paul writes in the above passage.
Become a “long-term” oriented person who understands the need to let patience have its perfect work. Farmers know this all too well as they plant crops and understand the basics of producing a crop. Time is a crucial factor. As you begin walking in Love and being Love you will begin to see other fruit of THE SPIRIT spring forth. When Love is your focus, joy bursts forth and you walk in peace even though those around you are in turmoil. Love moves you to become longsuffering with those who have yet to walk in the same manner. You can see them battling the two “I’s” Paul speaks of in Romans chapter 7.
Kindness and goodness come forth as a result of the Love walk and the seeds sown in this manner. Faithfulness and trust are direct results of your intimate relationship with FATHER knowing that it is HIS Good Will and pleasure to work in you and through you. You begin to realize that HE brings forth resources to accomplish those things your calling requires. You know that HE will deliver you out of any circumstance that may arise. But it all gets back to your decision on whether you pursue a relationship with HIM or trust in your own faculties and flesh.
FATHER gave the children of Israel this very choice and expressed the consequences in Deuteronomy chapter 30:
15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil,
16 in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess.
17 But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them,
18 I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess.
19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
20 that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”