GREEN PLANT
Kingdom Kids yield personal will to Yahweh in this Lenten series
,
Luke 13:8-9: “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, cut it down.’”
“I won’t be a sheep!” twelve-year-old Jeremy whined to his classmate, Cassie. “Sign me up as a plant!”
Cassie marched to the Plant Sign Up sheet and wrote “Jeremy.” Biting the pen’s cap, she commented, “You know that someone has to play sheep!”
The seventh graders were volunteering for parts in a play where everyone was involved.
While people are compared to sheep in God-speak, that comparison isn’t flattering. Sheep aren’t smart. Sheep follow and don’t lead. Sheep wander off (from the flock). Sheep tend to fall into holes. Sheep are food for wild animals.
But, plants are compared to people in the Bible, too. Jesus says that He’s the vine and we are the branches in John 15. Our Father is the vinedresser. This devotion is interactive between the writer and the audience. Please complete the lesson from Isaiah, chapter five, that’s linked below. The lesson provides background for the rest of this devotion.
Drum roll, please, until we resume…
Isaiah finishes chapter five by allowing that vineyard to become a wasteland where green plants aren’t cultivated [KUL-ti-va-ted]. Gardeners—in this case, vinedressers—nurture plants so that they grow strong and produce fruit. But briars and thorns overtook this vineyard. No rain fell, either.
That particular vineyard (Jerusalem) was God’s delight. He planted justice, yet received bloodshed. God sowed righteousness, yet reaped cries of distress.
You are God’s green plant. You are God’s delight. Our heavenly Father is the gardener who sows justice and righteousness in you. Consider that everyday trials are God’s digging around your roots. Consider that troubles are His trimming back your stock so that you produce more fruit (inspiring others to believe God). Watch out for the manure that Papa spreads around in order to enhance your yield significantly!
Measure the “fruit” you yield today compared to a month or year ago. Christians who’re growing spiritually consistently yield crops that produce a superior harvest for God’s kingdom.
Take Home Nugget
Everyone who doesn’t grow spiritually is one who doesn't cooperate with God’s indwelling Spirit and mature into Christlikeness. For many Christians, it takes a lifetime to yield our will to God’s Spirit.
Like the opening Scripture, though, whoever doesn’t produce “fruit” will eventually be cut down. John 15:6 says that “such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”
Continue Your good work in me, LORD, until I produce the fruit that You sow in me. I pray this in the name of My vine Jesus, Amen.
Adapted from “The Planting of the Lord”, a devotion by Rev. Erik J. Rottmann. March 4, 2018. Portals of Prayer devotional magazine. Missouri.
J.D. Griffith
For a personal, private lesson experience with our staff
Latest Christmas eBook by J.D. Griffith:
This eBook shows Mary’s adventure traveling to Bethlehem right before Jesus’ birth. This Biblical fantasy weaves supernatural delight into facts surrounding His birth.
Here’s another eBook by J.D. Griffith:
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment