Jeremiah 3:15 (KJV)
And I will give you pastors according to mine heart,
which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
As I stand here watching as the plants grow day and
night. I notice how at certain times they
come out and spread fertilizer all over the garden. If I didn't know better I think that the
plants really enjoy those times and become healthier and bigger because of it.
Fertilizer is like food to the plants. Without food the plants become weak, sickly,
and will even die. We are like
plants. We need food too. Jesus called himself the “bread of
heaven.” If we feed on Jesus, by doing
his commands, then our lives will be like healthy, fruit bearing plants. If we are self-seeking, and disobedient, then
our lives become unproductive, and we can even lose our salvation. We must ask God to feed us with whatever is
needful for us to serve Him in righteousness, in order that we grow in the
knowledge of our Redeemer.
One of my favorite products to fertilize is Miracle-Gro. This product is mixed with water and
sprinkled on and around the plants every two week. It is a systemic fertilizer, and will be
absorbed by the leaves of the plant, as well as nourishing the plant roots from
the soil.
God’s word is like Miracle-Gro. When we pray, and hear, and obey the word of
God, it is like mixing the Lord’s commands with the power of His Spirit. This is a winning combination for bearing
fruit, and for making us healthy plants.
It is the responsibility of the shepherds of God’s people
to feed them, just like the gardener does his plants. God is going to restore true shepherds to His
people that they might grow into a healthy crop, mature and bearing the fruits
of His spirit.
Jesus told a parable of a fig tree in a vineyard
(representing Israel, but applicable to us as well). The fig tree did not bear fruit, just as
Israel (as a nation) did not bear the fruit of repentance when their Messiah
came. Though Jesus tried to fertilize Israel
with the truth, yet after awhile, their unbelief caused them to be cut
off. If we won’t bear fruit in our
lives, the fruit of the Spirit, we can be cut off from the life of God. We can lose our salvation, and
backslide. If we have become unfruitful
in this way, only through repentance, and God’s forgiveness, can we be revived
as a healthy plant in His vineyard.
What is the best food that we, as followers of Jesus, can
use to nourish God’s plantings in our hearts?
The same food Jesus partook of!
Doing the will of God! How can we
know the will of God? It is revealed by
His spirit, through His word, and when we listen to the counsel of His only
begotten son Jesus!
Dear Lord, we thank You for the shepherds you have
brought in to our life to feed us. We pray that we would focus on bearing good
fruit. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment