I’m Doug Apple...and my heart is on fire. (Luke 24:32)
I’ve shared this parable with a bunch of people lately.
Jesus was often asked about the kingdom of heaven, and I can imagine Him looking up, hand on his bearded chin, pondering and saying, “What is the kingdom of heaven like, and to what shall I compare it? Hmmm…”
“It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden, and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”
Question: how long does it take a tree to grow from a seed? A long time.
How long does it take the kingdom of heaven to grow inside of us? A long time.
So my message is: have patience with yourself. Mighty trees take a long time to grow.
In Luke 17 the Pharisees were asking Jesus about the kingdom, and Jesus said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation, nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
How is the kingdom of God within you? Here is a quick breakdown.
We’re all born in sin. We are all sinners. Jesus died for our sins. When we turn to God and receive His forgiveness for our sins, that takes care of the sin problem that separates us from God, and then a glorious thing happens.
He puts His Holy Spirit inside of us.
That is the kingdom of heaven “mustard seed” being planted in us.
This is God beginning His good work in us, and Philippians 1:6 says that He who began His good work in us will be faithful to complete it.
In other words, that kingdom of heaven “tree” is going to grow.
The kingdom of heaven tree is going to bear fruit, the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 says that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
If you look at your life and say, “Wow, I am lacking in the fruit of the Spirit,” then I say, “Have patience with yourself.” It takes a long time for a tree to grow.
Back in the day The Hemphills had a powerful little song called, “He’s Still Workin’ on Me.” It said:
There really ought to be a sign upon my heart,
“Don't judge me yet, there's an unfinished part,”
But I'll be perfect just according to His plan,
Fashioned by the Master's loving hands.
He's still workin’ on me,
To make me what I ought to be,
It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars,
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars,
How loving and patient He must be,
He's still workin' on me.
Yes, God is still workin’ on me. He’s growing that tree of the kingdom of heaven inside of me. It’s going to bear the good fruit of the Spirit, but trees take time. They have to grow roots. They have to grow limbs and leaves. They have to weather the seasons, but watch. In time they will bear the good fruit the Creator has designed for them.
And so will you and I and all of God’s people, because His Spirit is inside of us, working on us, growing us, and raising us up to be full grown, fruit-bearing people.
So if you find yourself falling short of where you want to be in your walk with God, just remember that mighty trees take a lot of time to grow, so…
Have patience with yourself, because God’s still workin’ on you.
May God bless you today.
I’m Doug Apple.
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