Good Fruit

It has been four years since I have been able to have a garden. At our last home there simply wasn't room, so I was excited to get the ground worked and my plants and seeds in the soil. There were a couple things I didn't take into account, however. First, I staked out the spot where I wanted the ground tilled. It looked big enough to plant a large garden on with tomatoes, beans, peppers, onions, squash, etc. But when I purchased all my plants and seeds I soon discovered that I should have made it larger. Isn't that the way it is in our personal lives? We don't leave ourselves enough room to grow, to expand. Jabez prayed that God would increase his territory, his coastland, his opportunities for ministry. Jabez wanted all God could give him and he allowed sufficient space in his life. He tilled, he fertilized with God's Word and God planted seeds enough for a huge harvest. Sometimes we only set aside part of our lives for God and fill the rest with "stuff" so there in not enough room for expansion. We have to learn to get rid of that which is just "stuff" so God can increase our territory for ministry.

The second mistake I made with my garden was that when I planted the trees still had not leafed out. When they did, I found that my garden only had partial sunshine at best. Most garden plants and seeds need lots of light. In the same way you and I need Light in our lives. We spend too much time in the shadows. We try to hide in the dark. But Scripture tells us that God's light sees even in the dark recesses of our lives and no amount of darkness can survive against light. We have to let God's like shine on every part of our life ALL THE TIME if we want to grow and produce the fruit that God wants for us. We need light for spiritual nourishment. We need light for personal and spiritual growth. My tomatoes have finally grown. They are healthy strong plants bearing dozens and dozens of tomatoes. But they are the only part of my garden that receives the afternoon sun. The rest grew into nice bushes and vines, but there is very little or no fruit.

Most of us seek after happiness. We look for peace, the kind that "passes all understanding." When it doesn't come we blame God. But it is not God's fault. God said that the "Light came into the world but people preferred darkness over light." Get out of the shadows my friends and let God's like shine upon you. Then "let your light shine before people," so they will also learn to seek God's light. Sun light can burn and cause some health problems. But Son Light brings health and wholeness and happiness.

God Bless,

Ray