May 3, 2016

How is your garden growing? Not your produce garden in the backyard, but a much more important one. How is your spiritual garden growing? "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5.22-23) 

We can't actually make a produce garden grow; at best, all we can do is help to create conditions where growth will most likely occur. The same applies to Spirit produce in our lives: it is God alone who causes growth and increase (1 Corinthians 3.6). But, we can do something about potential growing conditions. No one who plants a garden and expects produce will plant the seed in the ground and then sit back until harvest time. There is weeding, fertilizing, and watering necessary for productivity. And so it is with our spiritual garden: the "Spirit seed" needs ideal growing conditions in order to bear fruit. Things like regular time in God's word. A prayerful mindset. Meaningful interaction with like-minded believers. Compassionate service in training and equipping others. 

How is your garden growing? Is the Spirit fruit listed in Galatians 5.22-23 increasingly evident? Is there work of cultivation you can do that will facilitate greater growth? 

It's a great day to inspect your garden and consider it's growth. And, it's a great day to more closely partner with the Master Gardener for the best possible garden. May our garden be a thing of beauty, pleasing to our Father, and His Son.

 Steve

©Steve Taylor, 2016
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