PASTOR’S CORNER, Pat Mann, President of Good Samaritan Auxiliary
John 15: 1-2 says “I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit He cuts away, and He cleanses and prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.”
My mother was good at gardening. Maybe some of you, by necessity, enjoyed food that your family planted, ate fresh, and canned for winter use. We didn’t know how good we had it. So much more delicious than eating the packaged, non-nutritious, but convenient, foods from the super market today. Those who plant gardens today do not do it so much out of necessity now, but because it tastes so good and for the sheer pleasure of growing things. We like to put something in the ground, watch it grow, and finally get to eat it, and share some with friends.
Well, some people are better at it than others. I didn’t seem to inherit my mother’s gardening skills, but I REALLY like home-grown tomatoes. So, I set out to give it a try.
First mistake - I didn’t do any research. “What is there to it,” I think – “get some plants, put them in the ground and give them some water once in a while.”
Sometimes our Christian growth doesn’t take off because we don’t spend the time doing the necessary research. Hosea 4:6 tells us that people “perish for lack of knowledge.” Whether it be tomatoes or Christians, if we remain ignorant, we won’t be fruitful.
We can’t just figure, “Well, I won’t cuss, I won’t drink, or lie, or cheat on my spouse.” That’s the person who thinks the Christian life is just a long list of activities with a DON’T in front of each one.
We can’t grow as a Christian just by watching what other people do.
We can’t grow by doing what SEEMS right. What does the Bible say about that? “There is a way that SEEMS right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
The right way to prepare to grow and be fruitful is to do it the hard way -
2 Timothy 2:15 – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
I should have done a little studying before I just stuck my plants in the ground and expected tomatoes. Research before any project is a good idea, and especially when it comes to Christian growth.
The WAY that seemed right to me ended up with no tomatoes. I did find out that the tomatoes need to be tended every day. For Christians to thrive, our faith needs to be tended every day. Just like we need food and water every day, we need to be nourished by the Word of God and take the refreshing water of life. Jesus said, “I am the true vine. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much fruit.” Five minutes at the task every day might not be enough, though it IS better than nothing, but may not be sufficient. Start with 15 minutes –just you and the Lord and the Word of God. Start a prayer journal to guide you in your praying. Before long your tomatoes will start to bloom. Soon your 15 minutes will not be enough as you grow more deeply into the nourishing soil of God’s Word.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy path. Be not wise in thine own eyes. Proverbs 3: 5-7a
Whether it be growing tomatoes or growing as a Christian, research is important. I need to look into the Book and learn from that rather than leaning on my own ideas. Do it the hard way – the Bible says “study” (2 Timothy 2:15).
