Hosea 10:12 (NIV®)
“Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD. . . .”
An effective Church is no more an accident than a productive garden is an accident. You can sit in your easy chair and look through the window and pray, “God, give me a garden.” You can pray until your tongue blisters, but unless you go outside and get to work you won’t have a garden. Gardens grow when someone plows the ground, prepares the soil, plants the seeds, waters the plants, and sprays for pests. You can’t make the plants grow―God does that―but when you do your part, God will do His. The same is true about the Church. We can say, “God, make me a mature believer. Reach our world with the Gospel. Help lost people get to know you. Grow Your Church.” But if we are not intentional about doing our part to facilitate those things, they will not happen. Look for opportunities to grow in your faith. Keep telling your Jesus-story. Support the Church with your resources. God will honor those efforts and bring change to peoples’ lives—and in the process His Church will grow.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for the opportunity to participate in Your purposes in the earth. This is my time, my generation, and I want my life to make a difference for You. Lord, help me to grow in You and grow Your Church. Show me what You would have me do for You today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
