To say I have a brown thumb, would be kind. It’s more like numb thumb. I have been so unsuccessful in growing any type of plant, I can’t even keep a cactus alive Because of this, I’m always impressed when I go to someone’s house and they have lush, thriving plants in every corner. How do they do it? I once had a tiny succulent on my window sill that I faithfully cared for and watered for 3 years before I discovered it was fake! I thought I had finally found a plant I could keep alive. Nope.
Recently, as I came to a stop at a traffic light, I noticed all the weeds growing up between the cracks in the rocks and sidewalk. They were growing everywhere a plant is not supposed to be. It was a veritable garden! How is that possible? No one is tending them, no one is watering them, in fact city workers go to great lengths to keep them from growing and destroying the landscape. So, how and why is it so easy to grow weeds?
I see the same phenomenon in my own life. It’s easy to grow “weeds” of bitterness, selfishness, unforgiveness, jealousy, hostility, anger, division, and immorality of every kind.1 In fact, it takes no effort at all. These things pop up anywhere and everywhere quite naturally. I can simply do nothing and am assured of a bumper crop of these in my life. By contrast however, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.2 But, just like my own inability to grow a simple house plant, I can’t grow these either. In fact, I can’t grow anything good at all. It is the Holy Spirit that grows this “fruit” in our hearts and lives, but He invites us to participate. Spending time with the Son in prayer and allowing the water of His Word to wash over us and nurture us, we begin to cultivate healthy seeds and soon we see the fruit of the Spirit begin to grow and flourish in us.
Something to ponder…Is there any fruit in my life, or do I have weeds popping out all over?
“Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.”
Hebrews 12:14-15 NLT
1 Galatians 5:19-21
2 Galatians 5:22-23
Discover more from The Ramsey's
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
