I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 1 Corinthians 3:2
One day, a mother and daughter were gardening, they were transplanting, flowering plants for a third time.
Grown from seed in a small container, the plants had been transferred to a larger container: then transplanted into the garden. Now, because the daughter was moving, so they were being transplanted once again.
As an inexperienced gardener, the daughter turned to her green-thumbed mother. "Isn't this bad for them?" she asked. They had dug them up more than once, shook the dirt from the roots and now they were moving them once more. "Won't it hurt these plants, being uprooted and transplanted so many times?" she asked her mom.
"Oh," her mom responded. "Transplanting doesn't hurt them. If fact, it's good for the ones that survive. That's how their roots grow strong. Their roots will grow deeper now, and they will make stronger plants!"
The daughter thought and pondered the words her mother had spoken. Often, she had felt like those small plants - uprooted and turned upside down. She endured the changes willingly, but at times reluctantly and usually her reaction was a combination of both feelings.
She wondered if the moves would be hard on her. She wondered how much easier life would be if things remained the same. That's when her mother's words would resonate in her mind: "That's how the roots grow deeper and stronger!"
Story Courtesy of Chaplain Lisa Bohannon
Seems to me that "transplanting" is similar to the trials we face. Our adversities are not pleasant to go through, however they do serve a purpose.
We must always remember, that this world is not our home, it is not our final design or destination. We are in the process of being "transplanted" to higher ground and we are being fashioned and molded by the hand of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
We are being prepared for the ultimate and final changes in our life. We are getting ready to go home, we are going to be "transplanted" to a place prepared for us in heaven! God is "transplanting" us by the circumcising of our hearts, He is making us ready for that day!
Man has made attempts to satisfy his debt of sin, by a natural means, but it did not work. The "transplanting" offers of sacrifices and religious service does not work! We must stop focusing on service and instead have a heart change, that will seek after God.
God is "transplanting" us and He is purging us of our selfish expectations and desires. He is cutting away and cleansing us, of our passions and thirsts for this life here on earth.
Sin covers the sick heart of flesh and creates a barrier between the human heart and God. The word "Christian" has lost it's meaning and it's effectiveness. The word "Christian" no longer makes a Godly statement! And, the word "Christian" no longer means we are renewed and changed by the love of God!
When will we learn to fully surrender to God? When will we offer that acceptable sacrifice, that begins with a heart that is being "transplanted" and circumcised by Him?
Circumcision means to remove and purify spiritually. To often we are comfortable with religious duties rather then a personal relationship with God.
Without spiritual understanding, we become religious in nature. Only God can "transplant," purify and circumcise our human hearts in order to make it a place where the Holy Spirit can reside. And, it takes faith to allow God access to the deepest secrets of our hearts.
The flesh and the sin that covers our hearts must be severed through discipline, obedience, holiness and a commitment to the Lord. The Holy Spirit within us, is the only way we can overcome the things of this world.
So, my friend, this begs a question. Are we in the process of being "transplanted" or are we "comfortable" right where we are?
One day, a mother and daughter were gardening, they were transplanting, flowering plants for a third time.
Grown from seed in a small container, the plants had been transferred to a larger container: then transplanted into the garden. Now, because the daughter was moving, so they were being transplanted once again.
As an inexperienced gardener, the daughter turned to her green-thumbed mother. "Isn't this bad for them?" she asked. They had dug them up more than once, shook the dirt from the roots and now they were moving them once more. "Won't it hurt these plants, being uprooted and transplanted so many times?" she asked her mom.
"Oh," her mom responded. "Transplanting doesn't hurt them. If fact, it's good for the ones that survive. That's how their roots grow strong. Their roots will grow deeper now, and they will make stronger plants!"
The daughter thought and pondered the words her mother had spoken. Often, she had felt like those small plants - uprooted and turned upside down. She endured the changes willingly, but at times reluctantly and usually her reaction was a combination of both feelings.
She wondered if the moves would be hard on her. She wondered how much easier life would be if things remained the same. That's when her mother's words would resonate in her mind: "That's how the roots grow deeper and stronger!"
Story Courtesy of Chaplain Lisa Bohannon
Seems to me that "transplanting" is similar to the trials we face. Our adversities are not pleasant to go through, however they do serve a purpose.
We must always remember, that this world is not our home, it is not our final design or destination. We are in the process of being "transplanted" to higher ground and we are being fashioned and molded by the hand of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
We are being prepared for the ultimate and final changes in our life. We are getting ready to go home, we are going to be "transplanted" to a place prepared for us in heaven! God is "transplanting" us by the circumcising of our hearts, He is making us ready for that day!
Man has made attempts to satisfy his debt of sin, by a natural means, but it did not work. The "transplanting" offers of sacrifices and religious service does not work! We must stop focusing on service and instead have a heart change, that will seek after God.
God is "transplanting" us and He is purging us of our selfish expectations and desires. He is cutting away and cleansing us, of our passions and thirsts for this life here on earth.
Sin covers the sick heart of flesh and creates a barrier between the human heart and God. The word "Christian" has lost it's meaning and it's effectiveness. The word "Christian" no longer makes a Godly statement! And, the word "Christian" no longer means we are renewed and changed by the love of God!
When will we learn to fully surrender to God? When will we offer that acceptable sacrifice, that begins with a heart that is being "transplanted" and circumcised by Him?
Circumcision means to remove and purify spiritually. To often we are comfortable with religious duties rather then a personal relationship with God.
Without spiritual understanding, we become religious in nature. Only God can "transplant," purify and circumcise our human hearts in order to make it a place where the Holy Spirit can reside. And, it takes faith to allow God access to the deepest secrets of our hearts.
The flesh and the sin that covers our hearts must be severed through discipline, obedience, holiness and a commitment to the Lord. The Holy Spirit within us, is the only way we can overcome the things of this world.
So, my friend, this begs a question. Are we in the process of being "transplanted" or are we "comfortable" right where we are?
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