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Weeding in the Upper Room #XLIII
15 years ago
General
Garden or Gardener?
Read Matthew 7:24-27j
Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, "This fellow began to build and was not able to finish."
-Luke 14:28-30 (NIV)
I love to grow beautiful, colorful flowers. People have admired my flower garden and have asked me to help them plant a garden. But what I find is that most folks really want a gardener. After they have planted the flowers and the hard and tedious work of weeding, watering, and pruning begins, many of these folks neglect the garden. Left on its own, it does not thrive. Having a beautiful, healthy garden comes with a price.
I see a similar pattern in my life. I want to have a close relationship with God and the beauty that a relationship with God brings. But when the hard work of obedience begins, I tend to grow lazy or weary. To have a healthy relationship with God, I must be diligent in the work of tending that relationship.
Debra K. Johnson (Ohio, USA)
Prayer
Dear God, help us desire to do the work that is required in a relationship with you so that we grow in obedience to your word. Amen.
Thought for the Day
How am I tending my relationship with God?
Prayer Focus
Gardeners
Read Matthew 7:24-27j
Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, "This fellow began to build and was not able to finish."
-Luke 14:28-30 (NIV)
I love to grow beautiful, colorful flowers. People have admired my flower garden and have asked me to help them plant a garden. But what I find is that most folks really want a gardener. After they have planted the flowers and the hard and tedious work of weeding, watering, and pruning begins, many of these folks neglect the garden. Left on its own, it does not thrive. Having a beautiful, healthy garden comes with a price.
I see a similar pattern in my life. I want to have a close relationship with God and the beauty that a relationship with God brings. But when the hard work of obedience begins, I tend to grow lazy or weary. To have a healthy relationship with God, I must be diligent in the work of tending that relationship.
Debra K. Johnson (Ohio, USA)
Prayer
Dear God, help us desire to do the work that is required in a relationship with you so that we grow in obedience to your word. Amen.
Thought for the Day
How am I tending my relationship with God?
Prayer Focus
Gardeners
I will go with the plant analogy and say my faith is not a garden but a house plant, it is not out for all to see and it requires little maintenance.
~Rev. Wally Bear