Watering The Seed,

Wandering around the supermarket in the fresh foods section, I pick up an apple and stare at it, checking its every groove to see whether it was sweet. I began to think about how hard sweet fruits are to find (if you're not very good at picking fruits like me). Even when the whole process of growing and picking and ageing is the same, for some reason, only a select few are sweet.

It is difficult to produce sweet fruit and so it is the same with our lives. It takes time, energy, sweat and perseverance - it is not easy.

So I cast my mind to this parable that Jesus spoke in Luke 8.

5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 And some fell amongthorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (v5-8)
11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. 14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience." 
 (v11-15)

Jesus says that in order to produce sweet fruit, we must hear the word, retain it and persevere. Why do we persevere? Because it doesn't come easy. 
It's easy to just hear the word, because it requires no action. It's easier to focus on what is in front of us - our problems, worries, earthly pleasures - than to focus on what is unseen. But Jesus tells us we need to spend the time and effort watering our seeds, feeding ourselves spiritual food, tasting and seeing that the Lord is good. Ponder and meditate on the Word and persevere even when it gets busy and tough, so that in due season, we can stand against the storms of life and produce good fruit.

Good fruit takes time to grow. An unripened fruit is not as its best, so we must be patient in the seasons of growing. Waiting is hard, not seeing any progress while waiting is even harder. Maybe we can't see any signs of growth, maybe God is working behind the scenes, but it's in these seasons where it is even more important that we continue to water our seeds. For God has said, blessed is the one who waits on the Lord.

Good fruit also needs good soil. We need to plant ourselves in an environment where we can grow and flourish, not where we will be choked and strangled. Remove the toxic influences in our lives that are dragging us down and inhibiting our growth. Continually surround ourselves with brothers and sisters, share the light, water each other in times when we don't have what it takes to water ourselves. 

So a challenge for myself and for you, is to water our souls with the word of God daily. Meditate on it day and night so that we may retain it. Share it with a brother or sister and water their souls too. It won't be easy and we will need to be patient, but I believe that God loves sweet fruits, just like I do.

I Know Who You Are,

It's been a long few years.

It's September, a new month and season to behold. Yet in these moments, I can't help reflecting on these past few years since rediscovering this unintentionally abandoned space. It's crazy to think that just two years ago, we were holding our awards and trophies, on the edge of our seats to graduate and finally experience life outside of school.

The next season was one of piling responsibilities, stepping outside of our comfort zone and into new, unfamiliar territories of different cities and different universities. More challenges faced than I ever thought I would be able to, not because I was able, but because He was able. Looking back on God's fingerprints all over my life, how could I ever doubt that He has planned my path according to His will and that He will bring me through?

But here I am, in the desert season, believing that God is our wonderful Father who is at work around me, but not quite believing He is working on me. How does one remain faithful in the times when we can't feel his presence, when we don't have obvious signs that He is with us and for us?
We can remain faithful when we know. When we know who God is, that He overflows with mercy and desires for His children to come back to Him. When we know who Jesus is, the kind and compassionate One interceding for us, who has paid the price and torn the veil so that we could come close. When we know the Spirit is living inside of us, renewing us each and everyday. When we know these things, we can trust that God hasn't forgotten us but that He is doing a new thing.

"Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert."  Isaiah 43:19