The Bridge Christian Fellowship
The Pastor’s Pen
My wife, Kristie, and I love to garden. I am not a great gardener or farmer, but I love to care for plants, watch them grow, and do all I can to guarantee that each plant will produce much fruit.
For the first time in our lives, we planted sunflower seeds in one of our large raised beds this year. Six plants sprouted, and all of them are growing vigorously upward. The tallest of these plants is now nearly 9 feet tall, with the others slightly behind. The flower at the top of the plants has formed and is growing each day as well.
What I love to observe is how all six of these plants lean toward the sun. In the early morning, they are leaning to the northeast, doing everything they can to catch every bit of the energy the sun will release to them. As the sun moves across the summer sky, the plants continue to lean, following the sun wherever it goes. As the sun sets to the northwest, all of the plants finish the day leaning in that direction.
The sunflower plant receives incredible energy from the sun. It not only causes these plants to grow at an exceptional rate; it also causes the plant to develop a very large flower that produces an amazing amount of sun flower seeds. God designed these plants to grow these seeds, and He created the sun which provides the energy necessary for the plants to complete their mission (produce much fruit).
In John 15:16, Jesus told his disciples, “You didn’t choose me; I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last.” This verse is at the end of a teaching in which Jesus told these same disciples, “I am the vine; you are the branches; those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.” God’s plan in both the physical and spiritual realm is consistent: He created living things to produce much fruit!
As I watch my sunflowers lean into the sun each day, God reminds me how desperate I am in my need to lean into the Son. It is in Him that I receive the energy I need to produce the fruit for which God designed me. In Him I receive grace, mercy, love, conviction, compassion, joy, passion, long suffering, self-control, and so much more! Without Him I can produce nothing; in Him I can produce all for which He created me. This is why the apostle Paul declared: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!” Philippians 4:13.
Why are my sunflower plants producing? They spend each day leaning into the sun. How can you and I produce the fruit that will honor God and bless others? By spending each and every day leaning into the Son. Our first thoughts of each morning should be toward our Savior. Throughout the day, as we experience the good, the bad, and the ugly that this world dishes out, our hearts and minds should continue to lean into His power, His peace, His joy, His strength. And, at the end of the day, when we are tired and spent, our final thoughts should be directed once again toward the only One who can sustain and direct us.
Which way are you leaning, my friend? Are you leaning into Jesus, or are you leaning into someone or something else? I encourage you to follow the example of the sunflower.
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