Blessed: Preprared to Plant

Day 2

That Christ may dewell in your hearts by faith; that ye being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend withall saintswhat is the breadth, and lengt, and depth,and height. -Ephesians 3:17-18
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God has chosen just the right spot in which to plant you. And you may be sure that he has carefully prepared the soil.

Good gardeners know the secret to growing healthy plants is having healthy soil-soil that allows roots to reachdeep to absorb the wate and nutrients that allow plants to thrive.Somethimes gardeners find that a "perfect spot" from an a artistic perspective offers only rock-hard soil or a permanent bed of weeds.

In the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-9; Mark 4:1-12; Luke 8:4-8) Jesus contrasts unproductive ground with good soil. If the soil is too hard, the seed will not penetrate and can be stolen by birds. If the soil is too rocky, the roots will groe quickly but end up being shallow. If the seed falls among thorns or weeds, the plants wiill be choked.

Jesus did not intend this parable to be a lesson on farming. Rather, he described the Word of God sowninto human hearts. In light of that, consider your own life. What might be preventing the seed of God's Word from fully taking root in you? Is anuthing stealing you jouor keeping you from grasping "the breadth, and length, and depth, and height" of the love of Christ" (Ephesians 3:18)?

Take heart, for preparing the soil is not up to you; it's to the gardner. God, the Master Gardner, has turned the soil of your heart over and removed the rocks and weeds of sin through the death and resurrection of his very own Son, Jesus Christ. The "living water" of the Holy Spirt (John 7:37-39) will penetrate deeply and will fully circulate. And if the rocks and thorns reappear, our Gardener patiently removes them, again and again, forgiving our sins at the cross of Jesus and gining us a fresh start, with mercies new every morning.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, do your holy work in me. May I soak in the full measure of the Spirit as your Word touches my heart. May the world see Jesus in me! Amen.