St. Luke's Church – Faribault, MN

I have not seen the delicate, dew-laced, white and yellow blooms of the crocuses in almost ten months (it was sure nice to miss a few months of winter this year!). Today, as I enjoyed the beauty of these flowers and other growing signs of spring, I was reminded of the difference between ‘seasonal growth’ and ‘no growth.’

All living things go through seasons of growth – sometimes it’s rapid (I’ve recently wondered if  I can actually see my irises grow!) and sometimes it’s slow (I can remember planting the oak tree in front of my parents’ house over 20 years ago and yet it is still by no means a majestic oak!). This ‘seasonal growth’ is also true in the Christian’s life. There will be times when a Christian is in a dry season. She will hunger for God’s work in her life but it will feel like she is in a dry and weary land where there is no water (Psalm 63:1). At other times, a Christian will be quick to praise God for His clearly marvelous work in her life.

These seasons are normal for a Christian. Even though there will be times of discouragement in a Christian’s spiritual walk, what is certain is that as the Christian remains (trusts) in Jesus he will bear fruit! As Paul writes, “I am sure of this, that [God] who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). God’s Word encourages us in dry seasons and abundant ones to walk by the Holy Spirit and then growth will happen – sometimes fast and sometimes slow but there will be growth. “[T]he fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:23).

However, no matter how much I water, fertilize, or work in my flower garden, not one crocus will grow if there are no crocuses planted there – only weeds will develop. In Ephesians 4 and 5, God calls Christians to holiness: sexual purity (sex is for marriage alone), to speak encouraging words and to stop cussing, gossiping, and using vulgarity, to stop stealing and to work so that you have something to give, to only speak the truth, and more!  But this expectation of holy living is only for those that have submitted their lives to Christ and have become new creations!

Holiness is expected to grow in the life of the Christian, but if you are not a new creation in Christ, holy living will not be truly observed in you no matter how hard you try, for out of the sinful heart flows our unholy actions (Matthew 12:33-37).

“Even a child is known by his deeds” (Proverbs 20:11). Our actions demonstrate to others if we are new creations in Christ or if we are still living in darkness, trusting in ourselves.

I hope you now ask, “How can I tell if I am going through a dry season or if I am still an old creation?” The Psalmist gives us the answer in his prayer, “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you” (Psalm 63:1). Is this your prayer? Are you trusting in God the Son and desiring more of His Spirit in your life? If so, be confident throughout the seasons that you are a beloved child of the heavenly Father in whom He is at work, developing fruit.

How beautiful it is to see God’s work bearing fruit in his children.

Pastor Aaron