Growing in Faith Devotion #26 – A Pollinated Faith

Scripture: “And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” – Isaiah 58:11

Examination: Isaiah is comparing the empty “going through the motions” forms of worship to authentic heartfelt worship. He then explains the results of worship that truly honors God.

Application: In the southeast, there is no doubt as to when spring arrives. One night you go to sleep, and when you wake up, the world has turned a lovely shade of yellow. Pollen season can be quite a nuisance when cars become yellow, porches are covered with the fine dust, which of course is carried into the house, and itchy eyes are the norm. But without pollen, our world would struggle to survive. Without pollen, the majority of our trees and flowers would eventually die out. It’s the same with our faith.

If our faith isn’t provided that which it needs to thrive, it will be barely alive within us, and eventually it will fade away. So, how do we pollinate our faith?

1. Pollinating our faith

• “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” – Romans 10:17
• Our faith begins when we read or are told about the Lord Jesus Christ, and how He died, was buried, and then rose again to be our Saviour. God’s Spirit opens our understanding to our need to have our sins forgiven and shows us that Jesus is the only way.
• Just as a new seed forms from pollination, a new faith begins when an individual accepts Christ as his or her personal Saviour.

2. Feeding our faith

• “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” – 2 Peter 3:18
• In order for our faith to grow, it must be spiritually fed. Faith grows from learning more and more about God, and that comes from His Word.
• Attending church as well as engaging in personal Bible study provides the nutrients our faith needs to grow.

3. Watering our faith

• “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” – 1 Corinthians 3:6
• Since we also learn by example, fellowship with believers who are strong in the faith also helps our Christian walk. Choosing our friends wisely can help produce a thriving faith.

4. Reproducing our faith

• “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” – John 15:5
• As we continue to draw near to Jesus, learning more about Him and obeying His precepts, our faith will begin to produce spiritual fruit. Others will see us blossom in our relationship with Christ and seek to know what is happening in our lives. That gives us the opportunity to spread some of our “pollen” as we share the gospel message!

5. Cultivating our faith

• “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” – John 15:1
• God is our spiritual Gardener. It is He who continues to teach us through His Word, prune us through trials and testing, and provide exactly what we need to grow strong in our new life with Jesus “…that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:3)

Colossian 2:6-7 reminds us, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

May we continue to bloom brightly for our Lord!

Memory Verse: “… and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.” – Jeremiah 31:12

Stretching your thoughts:

1. In what stage of growth is your faith?

2. How could your faith produce more fruit?

I am the vine, and ye are the branches,
Bear precious fruit for Jesus today;
The branch that in me no fruit ever beareth,
Jesus hath said, "He taketh away."

I am the vine, and ye are the branches;
I am the vine, be faithful and true;
Ask what ye will, your pray'r shall be granted,
"The Father loved me, so I have loved you."

(from “I Am the Vine” by Knowles Shaw)