ANCHOR DEVOTIONS MARCH 27, 2012

At the Proper Time

Luke 8:11-15

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
(GALATIANS 6:9)

INSIGHT
EXPECTING LOVE, JOY, PEACE, AND PATIENCE TO DEVELOP IN A HURRY IS BEING...IMPATIENT! LET GOD CULTIVATE THE FRUIT NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
1 Samuel 5-6
Psalm 122
1 Corinthians 16

Luke 8:11-15

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

¹¹ “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. ¹² Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. ¹³ Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. ¹⁴ The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. ¹⁵ But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

When you plant a fruit tree, you don't expect to see fruit right away. You have to wait. We know that fruit develops at the proper time. What is obvious with physical fruit is often ignored when it comes to spiritual fruit. Many people read about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 ("love, joy, peace, patience..."), but don't allow for the effort and time that it takes to develop them. They give up because they don't see the fruit of the Spirit immediately.

But God, the Master Gardener of our lives, takes the long view. Just as He designed a tree to grow deep roots and strong branches before bearing fruit, He knows that our spiritual life takes time. Becoming a Christ follower may take an instant, but learning to be like Him will fill the rest of our lives.

Certainly we can exhibit love and other fruit of the Spirit today, but for a consistent, increasing, abundant crop, we must plan to follow Christ, the very one who bears each and every fruit of the Spirit for us even when our own harvest is slim.