WATER

 “Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)” ‭‭John‬ ‭7:38-39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Wisdom

Authenticates 

Transformation

Encouraging

Regeneration 

It is so difficult to know what to say and when to say it. Recently I was attending a midweek Bible Study. The presenter was going through the lesson and as she was teaching a thought kept running through my mind. I was concerned about a point that I thought she was missing, but didn’t say anything because, I never want to be seen as “that guy”, you know the one. The know it all that can’t allow others to grow at their own pace.

Keeping my mouth shut was a hard lesson that I didn’t learn until college. My classes at that point were all Theology and Religion, mostly New Testament, Pauline epistles. One afternoon I was half asleep during a presentation, when the professor asked me a question. As I proceeded to answer him and cut through what I considered a waste of time, he took that opportunity to teach me a lesson. He said, “Russ, your mind makes leaps. You cut to the answer before the rest of us are finished discussing the question.”

“The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. … Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. … The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭19:1, 4, 7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In the case of the midweek Bible Study, the presenter eventually got to the point I thought was being missed. The essential question was, “Who is Jesus, and what are you doing with your relationship to Him?”

“Look, a righteous king is coming! And honest princes will rule under him. Each one will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a parched land. … For fools speak foolishness and make evil plans. They practice ungodliness and spread false teachings about the Lord. They deprive the hungry of food and give no water to the thirsty. … But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity. … Justice will rule in the wilderness and righteousness in the fertile field. And this righteousness will bring peace. Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭32:1-2, 6, 8, 16-17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Planting the seed of God’s plan of salvation is a process. Watering that seed with vital refreshment of wisdom brings us into an authentic righteous relationship with Jesus. As we grow in that relationship, there are actions and attitudes we must get rid of in order to serve God’s purpose in our lives. Our natural reactions undergo a transformation.

“But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. … Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. … Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. … Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.” ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:8, 10, 12, 14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Getting rid of our old nature is more difficult than it sounds. Old habits die hard! Just when we think we have everything under control, life brings us back around to the very thing we, moments before, were convinced we had moved past. 

As we plant, water, tend and harvest in God’s garden of individuals we are often reminded of the struggles we have overcome and we realize that the love of God is the only thing holding us together. Don’t be afraid to plant seeds of faith along your journey. Water those seeds with mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience! Never forgetting where we have come from or the things we have overcome by the power of God’s love, will strengthen our confidence as well as encourage others to experience the grace of God through the power of regeneration.

“Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But— When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” ‭‭Titus‬ ‭3:3-7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Lasting growth takes time. The development of spiritual fruit requires submission to the Holy Spirit. Wisdom only comes with experience. Our responsibility is faithfulness to the message of salvation. Planting seeds of faith is hard work, and watering those seeds takes commitment.

When my wife and I moved into our home, there was a budding lemon tree in the backyard. Not having a green thumb, I neglected that poor tree for months. My in-laws came for an extended visit, and my father in-law nursed that tree back to health. By the end of their visit the tree was flourishing, but when they returned the next year the poor little tree was DEAD. 

The world we live in is a desert if we do not intentionally, purposefully, and regularly water those seeds, they will go the way of my little lemon tree. Natural lessons have a spiritual application. We may not have “green thumbs” when it comes to nature, but God has called us all to be workers in His vineyard. The rewards of a job well done will also grow with our faithfulness.

“The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬