JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons

God knows you. 1 Corinthians 15:36

1 Corinthians 15:36

"Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies."
NKJV

God is an amazingly creative God. In His unlimited wisdom, He grows fruits and vegetables that provide food to eat and seeds for even more fruits or vegetables to grow. When we open an orange, each of us can see the potential for new fruit. We can count the seeds and get an idea of the number of trees that could be produced with those very seeds. What we cannot see or begin to comprehend is the number of oranges that will be produced from one seed.

This may not seem all that exciting but let's look at the application of this in our lives. When we ask Jesus to forgive us and are born again, we are like that seed planted into the ground. As that seed lies in the soil, it becomes something new, something with amazing potential for growth. Likewise, when our lives are given completely to Jesus, there is unlimited potential to the number of lives we could reach. The Lord looks down onto our lives and knows the number of times we will fall, the number of times we will have victory and the number of lives we will change. He knows and will provide the needed power; the question is...are you ready to produce? Are you ready to grow and be fruitful? When you give your life to Christ and submit to Him in obedience, you will see amazing things happen, not because you are the perfect seed, but because He is the perfect gardener. Trust Him and watch the harvest unfold before your eyes.

Life Lesson: Anyone can count the seeds in an orange, but only God can count the number of oranges in a seed.

Dear God,
Thank You for the continuous love that You have shown me. Thank You for Jesus and the gift of salvation that comes through Him. Lord, I praise You for these things and ask that You would help me to grasp the impact that my life could have when it is dedicated to You. I ask that You fill me with Your Spirit and use me to be fruitful for Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say, Pastor David McGee   My Comments: I love what Pastor David says about "only God can count the number of oranges in a seed." Sort of like only he knows the number of hairs on our head and the number of the sand on the beach.  For me it is so comforting to know I serve a God who nothing is beyond Him or surprises Him. He can take perfect care of me the way He knows is best not only for me but all who are in my life.   When I was younger and had gardens I could look at it and see what needed doing. I could see if it needed more or less water, more alfalfa around the plants or between the rows to keep the weeds away and heat the soil, I could see what needed picking or thinning to keep everything producing well and I so enjoyed watching the gardens grow. I think that is what it is like with God.   He brings us to Him through His Son Jesus. Then He waters us with His Word and as the Word grows in us it strengthens and refreshes us so we grow straight and true. His son lights our way and warms our hearts so we do things to serve others and this keeps us out of trouble or from growing weeds if you will. He thins out the things in us that hinder us from becoming all we can become by the trials of our lives. Then He shines on us with the love He had for us from the beginning of time. He is the best gardener and He loves us so much He made the biggest sacrifice a Father can make.   He let His Son die so we could live. Jesus made the greatest sacrifice a King can make. He went to the Cross and allowed His body to die so we may live with Him in heaven. First a seed must die in the soil before it may grow and become all it can become. Jesus made this possible for us. When we plant our roots deep into the soil of the teachings of Jesus and His Gospel and let the water of the Word of God flow within us we can become all God has ordained for us to become. We can become fully God's children and we can grow to maturity and as we become mature we would spread the seed and help those seed to be nourished and grow to maturity as well. Jesus said to so into the world and make disciples.   Abba we thank You for planting Your Word into our hearts and giving of Yourself so me may live and be Yours. We ask Your forgiveness for our sin and pray You will strengthen us by Your Word and plant Your Holy Spirit within us so we may mature and help others to know and go to the Cross and accept Your Son Jesus' righteousness so they may be Your sons and daughters. In the name of Jesus. Amen   Rebishka