Grow In Grace (Part 4): Planted In Purpose
Photo Courtesy of Reinaldo Photography
Labor in love
Labor: a beating; intense labor united with trouble and toil.
Today’s world has been completely infiltrated by a “laboring” spirit. In every arena of life, you will find people who are operating under great intensity. You see it in the workplace, at home, in the church, and if we’re honest enough to admit it—
We often find it in ourselves.
In Revelation Ch. 2, we’re given an eye-opening message from Jesus. In a personal letter relayed through the Apostle John, Jesus addresses the body of Believers in Ephesus (the church). And at the heart of His message are two distinct matters—Labor & Love. Regarding these two concerns, Jesus has the following to say:
“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”
While this is unquestionably a corrective message from Jesus, you also can’t ignore His commendation (approval). Jesus says that He sees every bit of their labor and recognizes that it’s for Him. When Jesus looks at these Believers, He sees patience, endurance, and their disgust of evil. And yet, despite all their good labor—
They’ve Still left their first love.
Essentially, Jesus is saying: “You’ve fallen but I want you to get back up. You're fighting the good fight, but when it comes to my love, you’ve completely lost sight. It’s time to repent from religion & return to relationship. It’s time to truly live again—to be led by my love.”
When we have a passion for the “things of God” but neglect the “God of all things”, we’re engaging in rituals. When we have a disdain for sin but we’re devoid of love, we become the religious hypocrites Jesus criticized in His day. When we abandon His love—
We Lose “The Way”.
The warning given to the Ephesian church reminds us of the privilege that comes with having a place in the body of Christ. We’re reminded that it’s impossible to occupy a position you’re not positioned for. Which is why, as they cruise down a path that leads to a “loveless crash”, we see the Grace of Jesus interject with the opportunity to correct course. We see that when the sheep go astray—
The Good Shepherd Calls Them Home.
It’s time to respond to the call of the One who loves you & created you before the foundations of the world. It’s time to respond to Jesus as He beckons you back to Himself. It’s time to labor in His Love. It’s time—
“For those who have an ear, to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”
(Revelation 2:7)
Abide in Authenticity
“God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him.”
The Love of God is not a conceptual, abstract idea that lacks power. It’s concrete, absolute, & full of power. The Love of God is the root-system that sustains the Christian life. And if you’ll look closely, you’ll find that Jesus is the “Root” to your success. Revelation 5:5 (AMP) says:
“Stop weeping! Look closely, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome and conquered!…”
Every person who has been grafted into the body of Christ is called to “overcome”. Your Root, Jesus Christ, has overcome & conquered. Therefore—
you can overcome & conquer.
If we will listen to Christ’s correction, we’ll receive His remedy. If we’ll abide in faithful authenticity, we’ll achieve continuous victory. May His Spirit speak to you & work through you. And ultimately—
sustain you with the Conquering Love of Jesus Christ.
be prudent
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test you [that is, to test the quality of your faith], as though something strange or unusual were happening to you.
But insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, keep on rejoicing, so that when His glory [filled with His radiance and splendor] is revealed, you may rejoice with great joy.”
In my part of the country, we’ve been enduring some record-breaking heat. The heat has ratcheted up to such an extent that, without adequate watering, the ground goes incredibly dry. It begins to crack and shift. And without correction-
The ground would ultimately collapse.
As 1 Peter Ch. 4 reveals, the landscape of our hearts operate in a similar spiritual state. But what we find is that our “fiery ordeal” shouldn’t surprise us, but rather, it should ignite us to rejoice in the Lord. God-honoring trials reveal a faith that reflects His Glory, therefore—
embrace the role it plays in Your story.
Though you can’t control the heat, you can control how you respond to it. If you find the ground of your heart becoming dry, “supplement your faith with goodness, and to goodness understanding” (2 Peter 1:5). Maintain a “fervent and unfailing love for one another” (1 Peter 8). And above all, quench yourself daily with the “Living Water” that’s found by spending time in Jesus’ Presence (John 4:14).
be pruned
Marigolds are known for repelling harmful insects, which is one of the reasons my wife and I planted several of these flowers all throughout our garden. Earlier in the season, they appeared to be living up to their reputation. They grew incredibly tall & full of healthy green leaves. They deterred countless things from destroying our vegetable plants. But despite all the good they brought to the garden, they were failing to fulfill their primary purpose.
They were failing to flower.
The Marigolds grew too busy, which inhibited the power that’s required to flower. It wasn’t until they were pruned that they began to produce their proper fruit. Thus, reminding us-
There’s purpose In The pruning.
“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
These things I command you, that you love one another.”
—Jesus (John 15:2, 8, 10, 16-17, NKJV)
As the branch abides intimately in the Vine, so too should our lives be connected to Christ. Just as Jesus’ Love for God was demonstrated through sacrificial obedience, we demonstrate our love in obedience to His Lordship. When we allow His Spirit to prune our brokenness & busyness, we truly bear fruit that lasts.
God is calling you to recognize your place in the Garden of His Kingdom. To recognize that you are a “light-bearing plant”, chosen by Jesus Christ to glorify God. This is the season to see His Light come to bear. This is the season in which the Light of Christ’s righteousness should be shining in your life. This is the season in which—
you were built to bloom.
be patient
“…the time of the Lord’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.”
The prophetic message of Isaiah 61 is packed with powerful imagery. One picture that stood out in-particular was the “oaks of righteousness”. When I asked the Lord about the significance of this Scripture, there was a resource I was led to that had the following to say:
“Planting an oak tree is a long-term investment. Most oak species are both large and slow-growing. This means it will take many years for oak trees to give shade to a broad area. But these trees are worth the wait…Those who planted these trees long ago were wise about the value oaks would add to the landscape decades later.”
For the followers of Jesus who’ve been patiently waiting on the Lord, know this:
—God purchased you with the invaluable blood of Jesus Christ.
—You are a “long-term investment” chosen before the beginning of the world (Ephesians 1:4).
—The Lord knew the great value you would add to His eternal landscape.
Now is not the time to wither in the waiting. Now is the time to remain rooted in His Love. Now is the time to stay grounded in your God-given assignment. Now is the time to exercise great patience as—
God positions you to give him great glory.
see what’s sown
Even in the Christian walk, it’s incredibly common to get caught up in the wrong things. We get reeled into religion, we develop a prideful heart concerning all we’re doing for God. And ironically, we’ll even elevate “our love” for the Lord to center-stage. But—
“This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.”
When we were unlovable, God loved us. When we were in darkness, God rescued us & brought us into His Light. Every display of True Love finds its origin in God Himself.
By the power of His Spirit, may we see the Lord with the same clarity as Jesus Christ. May His Love unravel every veil that keeps us from growing in intimacy. May you be empowered in knowing that you have been planted in purpose. And may you trust that—
every seed the Lord has sown will be seen.
“For as the earth brings forth its bud, As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.”
(Isaiah 61:11)
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today’s Takeaways
there is purpose in god’s pruning.
this is the season to see his light come to bear.
The one who abides in love abides in god.