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Monday, October 29, 2012

What Kind of House Plant are YOU?

(*Note:  I'm so excited!  The "Calendar" tab on my blog home page has been broken for a while and now it has been fixed!  Thank you to Smitten Blog Designs for helping me out, once again!  Also Christine made it possible for YOU to easily "share" my posts via several social media icons.  Look for them on the blog home page.  Check it out!)

CHRISTIANS ARE LIKE HOUSE PLANTS:  GROWING, DEAD, OR ARTIFICIAL.
WHAT KIND OF HOUSE PLANT ARE YOU?  

If, as a Christian, you're unsure of what category of house plant you fall into, here is a way to find out.  The Bible gives us all we need to know to find our proper category.  Jesus and other inspired writers often used plant imagery to illustrate the Christian life.  Let's examine each category.

GROWING
If we are growing, we are bearing fruit.  It is that simple.  And we're only bearing fruit if we are working for the Lord and growing in our knowledge of Him.

And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.
Colossians 1:10

DEAD
Christians that are not bearing fruit and not growing in knowledge are dead or in the process of dying.  It's easy to see whether we're growing or not.  We just have to be willing to take an honest look at our lives.  Again, we can do this best by going to the Bible.

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
John 15:2

ARTIFICIAL
Sadly some people only pretend to be Christians.  They look the part on the outside, perhaps, but it's all just fake.  The Bible talks about this artificial Christian, as well.  God wants us to be authentic.  He wants us to be real.

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Matthew 7:15-20

So, today, examine your life honestly.  Read God's Word and see where you are in the  house plant category.  If you find you are growing - GREAT!  If you find you are dying - YOU NEED HELP!  Plants need light, water, and air to grow.  God is the light!  Jesus is the living water!  God's Spirit was given to you at baptism, so all you need is to stir up that air within you and begin growing again!  You CAN do it! You can choose NOT to die!  If you're artificial, you can CHANGE!  You can be REAL!  You can be AUTHENTIC!  Don't be fake.  Eventually you're found out if you fake it.  Plus you'll be miserable inside.  Get real with God and with others.  You can do it!

1 comment:

Wa Wa Waughs said...

I think this would be a great illustration for Bible class - easily found materials too!

 
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