Introduction
When God created the world He made everything perfect, “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). All the fruits of the earth were for man’s physical edification. On the Day of Pentecost, when the church of Christ was created, God poured out His Holy Spirit so that His people could have the power to live the true Christian life. Along with the Gifts, God has given the church the Fruit of the Holy Spirit, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23). In the Beginning He created the Garden of Eden, but how does our spiritual garden grow? May be we need to replant a few crops to get the garden back into the condition God has intended, “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7).
We need some peas
The Peace that only God can give: “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
The peace has to be in a perfect condition: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3).
We need some squash
Squash gossip: “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice” (Ephesians 4:41).
Squash selfishness: “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (Philippians 2:3).
We need some lettuce
Let us walk honestly: “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Romans 13:12-14).
The let us has to be clean: “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).
Let us walk in the Spirit: “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).
Let us stand firm in Christ: “Let us hold fast our profession” (Hebrews 4:14).
We need some turnip
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25) – in other words, Turn up for the meetings.
We need some thyme
Time to seek God: “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you” (Hosea 10:12).
Redeeming the time: “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16).
Time for us to work with God: “It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they
have made void thy law” (Psalm 119:126) ... "Workers together with
him" (2 Corinthians 6:1).
We need some beans
We need to remind ourselves that we have been in a lost state, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2).
We have been saved through Christ’s blood: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19).
We have been filled with the Holy Spirit: “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” (Ephesians 1:13).
We have been set free: “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).
We need some oranges
Orange (aren’t) you glad you are saved! “O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness” (Psalm 51:14).
Orange (aren’t) you glad that Christ is preparing a place in Heaven for you “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-3).
Conclusion
There is no place for religious nuts, only spiritual fruit, in the church of Christ. If our spiritual garden is not producing anything then it is probably time for us return to the Husbandman of our souls for a fresh supply of seed. “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:6).
© 13 June 2007