Clearing the Land
One day last week as I was on my morning walk, I noticed new
shoots growing from the stump of a cut down palm tree. Several palm trees have been cut down along
several streets in Monrovia so that tall electrical poles can take their
place. I wonder if the poles will be in
place before the small shoot takes over the “cleared ground.”
A couple of days this
past week, I also visited Bentol area with their new Mayor, Christine Norman
and several of her supporters and workers.
As Christine showed me around the farm, she talked often about how
beautiful everything was before the war.
And she spoke about hiring someone to recently a large portion of the
land. Her eyes sparkled as she explained
how pleased she was. Then she went away
for a few short weeks and when she returned, it looked as though the land had
never been cleared. All the weeds and
trees had once again overtaken the land. Oh, the frustration!
I also saw several building on this land. Fortunately, the buildings were not destroyed
during the war. But after the war,
anything that could be pulled off the buildings were looted and carried away. With roofs, doors, and windows gone, it wasn’t
long before there were trees and all kinds of things growing in the buildings.
There’s so much to consider even in making one of those buildings
ready to be occupied once again. If all
the trees and growth are cleared from within the walls of a once occupied
building and it’s left alone for even a short time, all that effort will be for
nothing. Unwanted growth will spring to
life again. Without a roof and windows
and doors, the weeds will begin to grow.
Without regular upkeep and attention to detail, the change will not
last.
This
is also true for the life of the Christian.
I think of how glorious it is to have the heart and life cleared of sin
and guilt. Can we commit to keeping
ourselves covered with the Holy Spirit, (Ephesians 1:13 And you also were included in Christ
when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having
believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.),
allow God’s Word to take root in our hearts and commit to regular fellowship
with the community of faith? (2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the
grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you
richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing
psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.)
We
live busy lives and far too often, without realizing it, attitudes, thoughts,
actions and desires begin to take root where the ‘land’ was cleared. (Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one misses the
grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.)
We have a
wonderful opportunity for personal spiritual growth and help each other keep our heart and life
growing with that which pleases God and honors His kingdom.
When I start to get
careless, come along side me. If you see
unhealthy weeds starting to grow, walk with me and help me keep the ‘land’ cleared
of the ‘weeds’ and planted in godly growth.
And I’ll do the same for you.
Together, we can clear vast spaces filled with unwanted growth – not just
in our lives – but in the world around us.
The fellowship of believers will get larger and larger and God’s
presence will take root in ways we can’t begin to imagine. God
is doing a new thing! New growth is
springing to life in and through all of us as we live and walk in the Spirit.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship
with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Blessings to all
Pamm
Blessings to all
Pamm
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