Friday, June 2, 2006
Ephesians 3:16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your innner being.
KEPT IN TRUE FAITH
A few years ago my wife and I planted a small garden in our yard. As I tend to have a "black thumb", I was excited when a couple rows of vegetables we put in actually came up. But then we went on vacation for 10 days and we forgot to have anyone take care of the garden for us. When we came back, the patch was an absolute wreck. The weeds had taken over everything, animals had chewed the leaves, and the garden didn't produce again that season.
Our faith in Jesus is like a growing plant. It must be watered with God's word. It must be fertilized, strengthened, and protected from weeds. Only when fed and cared for properly will it mature and bear fruit.
The Holy Spirit is the master gardener of our faith. He gives it a steady diet of that gospel which is so necessary. We've heard the message of Christ's forgiveness won at the cross, but we can be so doubtful and forgetful of the good news that we must be reminded of it constantly. We know we are going to heaven and the Lord will see us through every earthly trial, but the Spirit must preach this to us minute by minute when the storm clouds gather in our lives. He must give us the understanding and the grace to believe firmly in Christ and His promises. Day by day the Spirit of God shields our faith, strengthens it, helps it, and upholds it.
By the Spirit's mighty power may we say with the Apostle Paul when the last hour comes to us, "'I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith'" (2 Timothy 4:7).
