The gardener
has planned, prepared, planted, provided and protected. Another way he tends to his plants is to prop.
As the plants grow, they might need some support…some
help….some propping up. It might be that
the stems are not strong enough to support the weight of the flowers or fruit. It might be that the winds come in and topple
them over. Plants not getting enough
sunlight will reach and stretch toward the light making their stems long and
slender and weak. Vines need support to
climb upward out of the dirt and mud so they can produce more flowers and
fruit.
As the gardener goes along among the plants, he will
see those that need extra help and will use appropriate methods to give them
the support they need.
He will use trellises, cages, fences, sticks, etc. to
give them the strength they are lacking in themselves.
~~ He will prop
up the weak.
ggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg
This is such a perfect picture of how God, as the
Master Gardener, lovingly cares for us.
Because we are all different…all different kinds of
‘plants’ in His garden….we all have different needs. Some are young and tender and need extra
support as they grow. Some are carrying
heavy burdens and need the extra strength to keep from falling over. Some are being blown and buffeted by the
winds of adversity. Some have grown weak
from lack of the Sonlight in their lives. Some were created as vines with a natural
desire to climb higher and higher.
So God, knowing we all need propping up, will use
different ways to support us.
gHis Spirit
The Holy Spirit comes along side us to encourage,
comfort, guide and instruct.
John 14:16-17a
“And
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor,
Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain
with you forever-- The Spirit of Truth”
John 14:26 "But the
Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach
you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”
He has given us the church….the body of Christ….other
believers…to stand with us, encourage us and support us when life blows storms
our way that try to rip us apart.
Hebrews 10:23-25 “Let us hold fast
the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one
another to love and good deeds, not
forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging
one another; and all the
more as you see the day drawing near.”
1Peter 5:10 “ In His kindness God called you to share in His eternal
glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, He
will restore, support, and strengthen you, and He will place you on a
firm foundation.”
Ephesians 4:11-16 "Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. (12) Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ. (13) This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. (14) Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. (15) Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church. (16) He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
He has given us His Word of truth filled with
direction, encouragement, hope, knowledge, wisdom, records of His past
faithfulness and His promises.
Psalm 119:28, 50,105, 133,
165 “My
soul weeps because of grief; Strengthen me according to Your word….Your
promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles…Your word
is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path….Establish my
footsteps in Your word, And do not let any iniquity have dominion over
me….Those who love Your instructions have great peace and do not
stumble.”
Psalms 19:7-9 “The
instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of
the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of
the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD
are clear, giving insight for living….The laws of the LORD are true;
each one is fair.”
gHis presence
Psalms 139:7-12 “I can never escape from Your Spirit! I can never get away from
Your presence! If I go up to
heaven, You are there; if I go down to the grave, You are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I
dwell by the farthest oceans, even there
Your hand will guide me, and Your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the
light around me to become night-- but even in darkness I cannot hide from You.”
2Chronicles 16:9 “The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen
those whose hearts are fully committed to Him."
Isaiah 41:10 “Do not fear, for
I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen
you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous
right hand.”
Psalm 94:18 “ If I should say, "My foot has slipped," Your
lovingkindness, O LORD, will hold me up.”
Are you finding yourself weak, battered by the winds
of life, struggling to stand up and keep going?
Is your strength waning..are you feeling alone, abandonded, without
direction or purpose?
Let the Lord be your support…cling to Him and let Him
hold you up and direct your path….let Him strengthen you and prop you up…
Through His Spirit…His church…His Word…His presence.
Hebrews 13:5 “…For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never
abandon you."
