Throughout scripture we see analogies of gardening, i.e. seed, planted, rooted, trees, and fruit.
John 15:1 I am the vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Jesus Christ is the vine and the Father is the "farmer". As we abide in Christ, we will be rooted and bear much fruit. Just as a farmer prepares his soil to accept seed, we prepare our hearts to accept "seed".
Jeremiah 11:13 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;
We prepare our hearts with the proper nutrients, prayer and thanksgiving. The "farmer" plants the seed and we abide in Christ to strengthen our roots. If our hearts aren't properly prepared to accept the "seed"; it will be taken away from us because our "roots" weren't developed:
Matthew 13:19-23 When one heareth the word of the kingdom (seed), and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
So our hearts need to be prepared, the seed accepted, our trust has been placed in God, we abide in Christ and he abides in us- then we shall be rooted and grounded in love. (Ephesians 3:17-19) Rooted and built up in Christ and stablished in the faith. (Colossians 2:7) We become a strong tree:
Jeremiah 17:8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
Even throughout the pressures or rough times in our lives we shall bear good fruit - love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. (Gal. 5:22,23)
John 15:1 I am the vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Jesus Christ is the vine and the Father is the "farmer". As we abide in Christ, we will be rooted and bear much fruit. Just as a farmer prepares his soil to accept seed, we prepare our hearts to accept "seed".
Jeremiah 11:13 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;
We prepare our hearts with the proper nutrients, prayer and thanksgiving. The "farmer" plants the seed and we abide in Christ to strengthen our roots. If our hearts aren't properly prepared to accept the "seed"; it will be taken away from us because our "roots" weren't developed:
Matthew 13:19-23 When one heareth the word of the kingdom (seed), and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
So our hearts need to be prepared, the seed accepted, our trust has been placed in God, we abide in Christ and he abides in us- then we shall be rooted and grounded in love. (Ephesians 3:17-19) Rooted and built up in Christ and stablished in the faith. (Colossians 2:7) We become a strong tree:
Jeremiah 17:8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
Even throughout the pressures or rough times in our lives we shall bear good fruit - love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. (Gal. 5:22,23)
