by Angie Lewis

Created on: May 10, 2010   Last Updated: May 13, 2010

Have you ever cultivated a blossoming plant from a small seed? It takes nurturing for the plant to develop into a strong and prolific plant. In the same way, when we hear the word of God it is like a seed planted in our heart; it takes nurturing to develop into a healthy spirituality within us. The seed, which is planted in our hearts, if given tender loving care, will grow prolific and bear much fruit.

“Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk instead of solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, ‘I follow Paul,’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos,’ are you not mere men.  I planted the seed, Appollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:1-7)

Just as Apostle Paul planted seeds of the gospel message in people’s lives, so do many leaders of the Christian churches today. Christian leaders are the encouragers, who plant the seeds in people’s hearts, fellow believers are the nurturers that help the seed to sprout; God makes the tiny plant become productive and bear much fruit. Spiritual growth takes more than just seed planters and nurturer’s; it takes our faith in Christ to follow his lead for our lives.

What must we do to become prolific and bear fruit? We must put our hope, desires, trust and faith in Jesus because He is our source for bearing fruit; apart from him we are nothing. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:4) apart from Christ our spiritual growth will be stunted.

Think of how a fig tree grows. The trunk or stem of the tree is where the branches get all of their nutrients to grow healthy and stout. The healthier the branch the more figs that branch will produce. The branches continue to receive nourishment from the stem as long as they remain attached to the fig tree. Apart from the tree the branches would wither and die. Our relationship with Jesus is much the same way. We must remain on the Vine to receive the benefits of fruits and blessings for our lives. And this is how we grow strong in our Christian faith.

How Faith Changes

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