Read: Romans 1:19-20, 1 John 1:5-7, and Galatians 5:19-25
Plants grow and change every day. God has put miraculous systems in place whereby plants put forth new leaves, bear fruit and spread deeper roots. We learn in Romans that God's power and divine nature are clearly seen in the physical universe. If the natural world is an indication of His character and plan for us, we know that through God's power He intends for us to grow, bear fruit and dig deep roots.
God's Word is an amazing thing. As we read it, it reads us. When we meditate on it, it exposes the dark places inside us, calling us to change to become pure and holy as God intends. But what does purity and holiness look like? Galatians is very specific about this. In our sinful nature we gravitate toward “sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.” But through the power of the Holy Spirit, made available through Jesus' redemptive work, we leave these selfish acts behind. Like a tree, we produce good spiritual fruit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self–control.” We dig deep roots through God's Word and family of believers. Our growth is marked by unselfishness, seeking the good of others and bringing glory to God.
In John 8:12 Jesus told his followers, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 1 John explains that we cannot have fellowship with God if we walk in darkness. If we live at peace with our sinful nature and pursue its desires, we walk in darkness. But walking in the light means we must fight against our sinful nature. As a plant struggles to grow upward and expand its branches and roots, we must do the same in the power and grace of God. And God will help us, “purify[ing] us from all sin.”
