I'm trying to grow boysenberries in my backyard. Over the last couple of years, Gerry H. has been passing along beautiful and healthy boysenberry plants. I have been planting them. They seem to do well at first and then they die. Why? I haven't a clue. Too much water? Not enough water? Wrong soil? Not enough sun? Whatever the reason, I can't seem to get the plants to grow very well. So far, I have had very limited success. In fact, 'success' may be an overly optimistic word. I picked six berries. (Mrs. Knott has nothing to worry about from me!) I try all that I know and still no berries. And worse, no plants. Ever have the same experience with your faith? Sometimes my walk with the Lord seems to be the same... limited success. I try to do what is good, right and salutary for my faith and the result is... well, not so good sometimes. I get a good start and then the struggle, the wilt, the.... You get the picture. Why is it that we go through times when we aren't growing and thriving and bearing abundant fruit for the Lord, even when we are doing everything we know to do? Perhaps the short and (bitter)sweet answer is that our spiritual growth and fruit bearing isn't dependent on us at all. My efforts are sabotaged by my sinful nature. Romans 7 speaks to this, especially "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing." (Rom. 7:18-19). That is the bitter part. The sweet part is spiritual growth and fruit is God's work in us. It is entirely dependent on God working His grace and mercy in us. Growth and bearing fruit is a work of the Holy Spirit as we are placed in Christ Jesus by way of God's Word and His gifts to the church, Baptism and Holy Communion. God, through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, sets us free from the sin that destroys and blesses us so that we grow in His grace and in the knowledge of the truth. "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,..." (Rom. 8:1) God is generous with His grace! So is Gerry H. He dropped by another boysenberry plant for me today. This time it is a really big plant. I'm ging to plant it and try again. Another chance. A new beginning. Thank you, Gerry! Thank you, God!! Growing in the Lord Jesus with you, |