Monday, June 14, 2010

Are You Rich?

I adopted this scrawny, little variegated Pothos from my dad when he died several years ago. When I took it home it had two, maybe three leaves on it and it hasn’t grown much since. The soil is not the best quality so it doesn’t retain moisture or nutrients very well. There have been times I thought it was near death, but allowing it to sit in water for a few days always brought about new growth, minimal as it was. What it needs is fresh, rich soil.

Good soil provides four things: water, air, nutrients, and stability. If the quality of any of these is less than a rich mixture, the plant may survive, but its growth will be stunted, like my little Pothos.

And so it is with believers in Christ. We need a rich soil in which the roots of our faith can grow deep and allow for a healthy life of bearing spiritual fruit. “But those {seeds} that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." (Mark 4:20) So how can we cultivate the “soil” of a good heart where our faith can grow strong and healthy?

First, we need water. “’He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, Whom those believing in Him would receive;” (John 7:38-39a) Does the Holy Spirit continue to flow through you, or has the fountain been stopped by unbelief? Determine to believe in your Lord.

Next, we need air. In God’s Word, Spirit literally means, “a current of air.” Not only is the Spirit of God breathed into us at the time of salvation, but we have to continue to keep our hearts sensitive to His instruction in our lives. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of all that I have told you.” (John 14:26)

Along with those, our hearts need to be fed with nutrients for our soul, which is the food of truth found in the Word of God. “But He (Jesus Christ) answered and said, ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’" (Matthew 4:4) Feed yourselves daily.

And we need stability, which is the decision to keep a steadfast, unshakeable trust in the Lord no matter what trials we face. “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” (Psalm 20:7)

And don’t get me started on light!

So as you can see, the Trinity works together in perfect unity to provide everything needed for a rich faith and a life of abundant fruit perfected in Him.

If you search your heart and find that your faith has gotten a little weak, saturate yourself in your Lord. Have your fill of Him and be rich.

2 comments:

  1. Like your new look! Thanks for the encouraging words. I have one of those plants that I've had for over 20 years, and it doesn't look a lot better than that. I had it at my office and I brought it home when I retired. It pretty much dies every once in a while. lol Love you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds like yours may need some new soil, too. :) That's amazing you've had it so long. Love you, too! And thanks. :)

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for sharing!