PARTNERS IN THE ORCHARD

Though God alone is the source of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, our cooperation is required. The process of becoming more like Jesus depends not just on the work of the Holy Spirit but on you and me as well.

Growing into Christlikeness is a joint project between the Holy Spirit and us. God calls us to be partners with him in the orchard!

Our role is to cooperate with the Spirit’s work so that the fruit finds all the right conditions in which to ripen.

That might mean we have to break up some of the hard ground in our lives.

It might mean we have to clear some of the stones out of our life’s soil.

It might mean we’ll need to pull up some sinful weeds and thorns that distract us from paying attention to God’s Word. (See Mark 4:1-8, 13-20.)

If we don’t work with God in tending our spiritual garden, the harvest of fruit in our lives will be minimal. If we refuse to partner with God in what he wants to accomplish in us, we’ll never see more than a pitiful crop.

God’s desire, of course, is that the fruit fully ripens in our lives, and that our harvest is full. In John 15 Jesus says that the one who remains in him will bear much fruit. That person’s life will be fruitful, and it will bear fruit that lasts!

Prayer

God, help me cooperate as your Spirit grows Christ’s character in me. Help me work with you to tend my spiritual garden so that your harvest in me is both full and lasting. Amen.

Shawn Brix