From week to week, I pray and wonder what God would have me share for the back of the bulletin. Sometimes, I share about events at church. Other times, it is more of a devotional. This week, I decided to begin a devotional series on the Fruit of the Spirit. Over the next few weeks, you will see reflections on the various “fruits” here. If you use the internet, I invite you to join the discussion and add your thoughts. Go to http://pastordecker.blogspot.com, and click on “Comment” at the end of the blog entry. Hopefully, we will have some meaningful discussion(s).
This week, I’d like to think with you about the analogy (of the fruit of the spirit) itself. Since we live in farm country, the analogy is easy to understand. Over the past few months, we have seen roadside stands selling fruit and vegetables come and go. The bench by the church doors is once again clear of zucchini and other produce. Though it may seem like it, the produce didn’t just appear. Someone had to plant a garden and tend to it by fertilizing it, removing weeds, and watering it during our dry spells. The point is, it took work. It also took time.
In some ways, the fruit of the Spirit is the same. God provides the seeds when the Holy Spirit indwells a person. The fruit begins to grow immediately. While God “plant’s the garden” at salvation, we need to faithfully cultivate it. As we grow in our faith, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control also grow. We provide fertilizer and water through our prayer, Bible study, and fellowship with the saints. We weed by removing old, destructive habits. Ultimately, God provides the growth. As 1 Corinthians 3:9 says, “you are the field.” How is your “field” doing?
In His grip,
Pastor Decker
No comments:
Post a Comment