I love food fresh from the garden, particularly tomatoes. A couple years in a row, I had idyllic visions of growing our own crop and having a limitless supply of red, juicy deliciousness.
The first season, a vicious fungus ravaged every last plant. The second season, our 2-year-old son ravaged every last plant (sneaking into our garden and snatching every fledgling tomato as soon as it began to form). I believe I’ve had a few other attempts, but I’ve conveniently forgotten about those disasters. For all my desire and effort, I simply haven’t been able to grow tomatoes.
Often, we have strong (and good) desires for our hearts to grow, our faith to grow, our obedience to Jesus to yield results. God wants these things for us too. He longs for us to “be strengthened with all His glorious power” (Colossians 1:11). We are regularly tempted to believe, however, that our work is what actually makes the growth take place. If our prayers appear to be unanswered, we assume it must be because we aren’t praying right—and we set out to find the right prayer formula. If we don’t feel as close to God as we would like, we assume we must not have hit upon the proper spiritual regimen.
The truth is, though, that we can’t make our spiritual lives sprout any more than we can make a fruit tree blossom. It is God who has “enabled [us] to share in the inheritance that belongs to His people” (Colossians 1:12). It is God who “has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness” (Colossians 1:13). We didn’t do anything other than listen, receive, and obey. God did all the work. All of it.
Many anxious and restless days could be avoided if we rested in God, simply obeyed Him, and trusted Him for “every kind of good fruit” (Colossians 1:10). —Winn Collier
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Judges 14:1-20
More:
Look back over Colossians 1. How many times does Paul mention prayer? What connections might there be between the act of prayer and our reliance on God rather than self?
Next:
How have you been tempted to believe that the key to your growth is your own effort? How will you trust more in God?
terwong218 on March 11, 2011 at 5:10 am
I admit that I am an anxious person, I used to plan this and that, I was attempting to control things or circumstances which should be under the framework of my planning. I wanted to ensure that if plan A did not work, I will always have another contingency plan to back up.
In other word, I think I have problem in total surrendering to Lord Jesus, I set apart my plan for myself so that I was in control. But this will never work and my spiritual growth was stuck until I learn to submit everything to Him. I don’t need to have so much of contingency plans as He will take care of the rest of it, I just one plan- seeking and fully trusting Him. Obedience unlocks understanding. I do not feel so much of anxiousness, but sometimes I do and I have to pray and ask Lord Jesus remove it from my heart.
winn collier on March 11, 2011 at 7:17 am
terwong, I think that surrendering control gets to the center of obedience and trust, at least it does for me. I often have this image that I’m clinching my fists tight, holding on – and for me, obedience and trust is to loosen my grip.
eppistle on March 11, 2011 at 6:50 am
In Philippians 2:12,13, the Apostle Paul writes, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”
Do we need to work or is it God working in us? The answer is “yes.”
For those of us who are lazy and presumptous, Paul tells us, “Work out your salvation.” For those of us who are weary from defeat or proud from accomplishments, Paul tells us, “It is God who works in us.” All of us need to live in this tension so that we don’t fall into laziness, presumption, discouragement or pride.
winn collier on March 11, 2011 at 7:20 am
thank you for the Philippians Scripture, eppistle, it is of course important to remember that we do act, that we do obey. However, it is a matter of order – God works in us first, and then we work. God works in us so that we can will and so that we can act “according to his good purpose.” Like fruit, we rest in the Vine and receive God’s life – and then, yes, by all means, we bear fruit. (John 15)
Even our work is really God’s work.
joehillomni on March 11, 2011 at 6:50 am
I’m really glad to have a job even though when orders don’t come in we get laid off a day or two. I am the primary provider for my family. I know God will take care of us in ways that I may or may not be aware of. He has shown me over the past year that He does this. I trust Him to provide….BUT…oh that word…I still experience waves of anxiety. I have to pray and reaffirm my trust in Him…review the fact that He has provided in the past. I think this is resting in the Lord as the author this morning put it. But man, “resting” in the Lord is a lot of work for me!
winn collier on March 11, 2011 at 7:22 am
Resting being work, I hear you there. Trusting that God will provide for us requires that we relinquish the belief that we are our own provision – and that is difficult, isn’t it?
GrowinginChrist on March 11, 2011 at 8:09 am
Yes, we must stay on the battlefield and trust in the Lord with all our might, and also believe with all our might that God is working in our lives.
eppistle on March 11, 2011 at 8:45 am
Sounds like the Spirit-filled life: We have the sensitivity to hear the promptings of the Holy Spirit and then we respond by surrendering to His commands and to His power to fulfill those commands.
I have wondered about the relationship between being filled with the Holy Spirit and dwelling in Christ. A wise friend answered my question by pointing me to Ephesians 3:16,17: “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Prayer for being filled with the Holy Spirit will result in being filled with the Holy Spirit which will result in Christ dwelling in us.
sowharvest on March 11, 2011 at 10:32 am
A good reminder about obedience really. I know just the other day I told the Lord Jesus to help me grow in patience. Boy did I not really get what that would entail: Because almost immediately I began to experience trials and tribulations with a loved one. One that I never imagine having that much contention with. The Spirit of GOD took over and I began to pray and cry–however my normal response would have been tit for tat/trying to inflict some hurt. But in my obedience–(which was ” to lean not to my own understanding” (Prov.3:5)– I prayed instead of trying to control the outcome. Now things have immediately gotten better but I am leaning to just cling to HIS Word and speak His promises instead of focusing on the physical. GOD is greater than any thing we have going on in our lives and HE saw before we would go through our situations and loved us enough to have Jesus to redeem us from the “dark side”[of bitterness, unforgiveness].
So yes Winn it is the Lord working in me not me that sought to pray and not spray words of hurt. I thank the LORD that HE has taken me to another level of understanding and in asking for patience I also will grow my confidence in the awesomeness(my word) that is GOD. Now isn’t that Faith?!.
Lamont on March 11, 2011 at 10:52 am
Trusting.
I remember standing on the back proch of my newly renovated home in an affluent northeastern suburb. We had floowed a path — apartment, starter condo and now a Dutch Colonial with a two-car garage and yes a fence. Along the way we moved up to better jobs and better salaries.
My plan: We’d pay the mortgage in X years, save what we’d need for our young son’s college education and still sock away enough money for retirement. I had a good job in a bullet-proof industry, as did my wife. I’m a planner and felt good about the horizon.This was five years ago.
Well, nothing I had planned every worked out. My wife and I divorced. My industry has plummeted like a boulder. We sold the house.
I think about that moment on the back porch. Such arrogance. You see, I still had a lot to learn.I didn’t know how much I didn’t know. Now that I understand my Faith better I know the degree to which God is in control. I had put myself on his throne. He had to shake my world.
I don’t look at these things as setbacks because they have given me wisdom.
I chuckle when I think about my confidence in “my” plan. It still astounds me to think, “Nothing I planned has happened the way I planned it.”
I don’t get down about it. My ex-wife and i get along. Our kid is thriving. I landed a new job in a second career.
I still catch mysefl setting my own agenda. It is libertating however when I say my focus should be to nurture my heart for Christ. I do make plans but only to a very general degree. If God sets another course than that’s where I go.
daisymarygoldr on March 11, 2011 at 2:20 pm
You are right, God did all the work. We didn’t do anything other than… obey. Obedience requires doing. Apart from Him, I cannot produce any good fruit. My work is to abide in Him. To abide means—to cooperate with God’s Spirit and do His will.
In the context of Colossians 1, good fruit refers to my changed life after receiving the message of Christ (Col 1:6). The evidence of my changed life is seen in the fruit of love for others—not my love but the love of the Holy Spirit (Col 1:8).
When every kind of good fruit is not produced, I am subjected to the pruning shears—people and circumstances that God brings into my life. They are painful and the experience is not pleasant. But in order to please God (Col 1:10), I must pray for His wisdom and understanding.
And then, when I make an effort to love my enemy and bless those who curse me, or exercise self control, patience, and tolerance, I do not take any credit for it. Because I recognize that it is not me but Christ in me. It is His Spirit who is working in me to produce good fruit for the glory and honor of God.
I love how this reads in (Col 1:9-12,The Msg): : “… asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to His will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you’ll live well for the Master, making Him proud of you as you work hard in His orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work.”