Isn't this the cutest cantaloupe? It is growing big and hopefully it will ripen this month and be juicy and luscious. There are a good number of them on my vines and they are getting special care and treatment. Just like caring for a growing cantaloupe, growing in our love for Jesus purposely takes time and special care. Just wishing for spiritual growth or thinking it will come automatically is a delusion. Special care in reading and meditating on God's Word, special times of prayer, purposeful hours set aside with the Lord, along with a listening mind and heart are what we would call fertilize and nurture to our soul and spirit. It is not so much that I am working on my spiritual character and growth; it is that I am seeking the filling of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we get the two confused. I am just the vessel that God is seeking to fit for His Spirit, and remembering that leaves no room for spiritual pride.
I don't want to just be all vine and show. I keep trimming off the new blossoms and vine growth so that some of the cantaloupes mature and ripen. My human nature constantly fights for attention to get the upper hand just like those blossoms. I want to be fruitful and bear fruit, which means resting and abiding in Jesus as He trims me. And when I am abiding in Jesus I am free from myself, free for Father to fill me with His fruits. No credit to me, for it is all Him. Keeping this perspective is so important in our lives. Perspective that keeps the focus on Jesus' work and not on mine. Perspective that keeps the glory shining on Jesus and not on me. So my purposeful care in the spiritual disciplines does not make me spiritual. Jesus does. It is about Jesus in me.
Notice the perspective in the whole picture. All of a sudden this large cantaloupe takes on a different appearance. All because of perspective. Let's don't take ourselves too seriously, but let us do take Jesus Christ seriously, praising Him for all He does in us and for us and through us. Let us keep our perspective on Jesus. K.C.
