My husband and I enjoy planting, tending, and harvesting from a garden in our backyard each summer. Bill is very vigilant about the dirt, making sure the soil in which we plant is rich with minerals. We get excited to see the bean plants sprout from the seeds that we covered with earth. We watch the plants grow. I try to eliminate the weeds that are trying to choke out the plants we so carefully placed in the dirt. When we get that first ripe tomato, it tastes wonderful! There is always a little sadness as the plants begin to wilt and die at the end of their life cycle.
Just as my garden grows, God wants me to grow in Him. Ephesians 3:17 says “Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” In the book of Jeremiah (17:7-8) we learn that when we trust in the Lord for our hope we become like trees planted along the river with roots that reach deep into the water.
The Bible uses plants and gardening often to help us understand things such as:
People
A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit….Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
- Matthew 7:17and 20
The Kingdom of God
Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.
- Mark 4:30-32
His Work in Us
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
- Galatians 5:22-23
True Satisfaction
Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 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.
- Galatians 6:8-9
Hope
Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.
- Psalm 126:5
Doing God’s Work
When he (Jesus) saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
- Matthew 9:36-38
Let’s pray together.
Lord,
We want to thank You for the opportunity to be fruitful in this life! May our roots grow deep in You. May our faith keep the worries and weeds of life at bay. May our devotion be to You first. May our worship break open the Heavens like life-giving rain. May we find all our hope in You. May we share the faith, living out the fruits of the Spirit to produce more Christ-followers! And when our life here on earth ends, let us remember that there will be endless joy in Heaven with You!
In the Beautiful Name of Jesus,
Amen
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