Keep Up the Good Work

Bible Reading: GALATIANS 6:9-10; 2 TIMOTHY 2:3-7

“I’ll never get this map to look like Canada!” Rory said, shoving her half-completed project aside. “I’m supposed to have this done by tomorrow, and I’m not even halfway through yet. I might as well quit!”

“Come on, Rory. Is that what they teach you at school—to quit when things go wrong?” asked Dad.

“No, but there’s absolutely no sense in trying to finish this map. I hate making maps. I’m no good at it. Can’t I tell Mrs. Payne I didn’t have time to do it?”

“That wouldn’t be true, would it?” asked Dad. “I believe a verse you learned in church last week would apply in this situation. Do you remember it?”

“Last week?” Rory thought for a moment. “I remember—Galatians 6:9. It says, ‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.’ But that’s not talking about drawing maps!”

“It can apply to many things,” said Dad. “It’s a verse we need to remember whenever we feel like giving up.”

“But it says not to grow weary when we’re doing good. I’m not doing good on this map. I’m doing awful.” Rory looked pleased with that excuse.

“But you are doing good,” said Dad. “By doing your assignment, you’re obeying your teacher and being a responsible student who’s willing to learn. Those sound like good things to me.”

“Yeah,” Rory said. “But all I seem to be learning is that I never want to be an artist or draw maps!”

Dad laughed. “Sometimes doing the good that verse is talking about means doing the things God has given us to do in our everyday lives—even if they don’t seem all that important or helpful. But because Jesus has saved us, He’s given us the ability to do those things faithfully, and He promises to use them for good. By drawing that map even when you don’t feel like it—even when it seems hopeless to you—you’re serving Him and showing that you trust Him to bring good out of everything you do.”

Rory sighed, but she got busy with her drawing again. “Okay,” she said. “I’ll do my best for Jesus!” JACKIE KRUTKE

How About You?

Do you keep trying when things get hard—like when you have trouble working out a math problem, learning your spelling words, or playing an instrument in band? Or do you just want to give up? Even though your daily tasks may seem tedious or even hopeless at times, Jesus will help you persist in the things He’s given you to learn and do. Don’t give up. Trust Him to use your faithful efforts for good.

Today’s Key Verse:
GALATIANS 6:9 LET US NOT BECOME WEARY IN DOING GOOD, FOR AT THE PROPER TIME WE WILL REAP A HARVEST IF WE DO NOT GIVE UP. (NIV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Don’t give up doing good