WEEK 15 – DAY 1 – CULTIVATING FRUIT

The seed that fell into good, fertile soil represents those lovers of truth who hear it deep within their hearts. They respond by clinging to the word, keeping it dear as they endure all things in faith. This is the seed that will one day bear much fruit in their lives. Luke 8:15 (TPT)

The soil that yields a significant crop is the person whose heart has been tilled and cultivated by the Holy Spirit. When that person hears the word of God, she not only responds enthusiastically immediately but perseveres, sticks with the commitment made to the Lord (James 1:2-4). I had a small garden outside my classroom. My second graders planted radish and carrot seeds in late February. The twenty-one days that it took for the radishes to mature seemed like an eternity to seven-year-olds. They patiently took turns taking out the watering can to keep the soil from drying out. A few minutes of recess were devoted to pulling weeds. Harvest day was joyous as they tasted the fruit of their labor. A few of them spit it back out but were still thrilled they had grown their own radish. Our growth with the Lord requires daily attention as well. We must not lose faith or patience with the process of cultivating spiritual maturity during times of trial. We must faithfully to drink up the water of God’s word. We need the sunlight of encouragement from other believers. We keep the soil loose by obeying God. The reward will be to grow in Christlikeness displaying the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). As we mature in our relationship with Jesus, we will bear fruit in the form of others surrendering their lives to Him as we share the Gospel. We must not lose patience when our sharing does not produce an immediate crop. We must remember that we plant, others water, and yet someone else reaps the crop (1 Corinthians 3:5-9). But, ultimately, God is the Lord of the harvest. If the soil of your heart was well cultivated, and the seed of God’s word took a firm hold there, it was the work of the Holy Spirit preparing and drawing you.

Lord, help us to continue to feast on the food found in Your word and the Son-light found in the fellowship of believers. May Your Holy Spirit continue to cultivate Christlikeness in our lives and root out any weeds.