A Little Gardening in the Midst of Winter

"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth."
~1 Corinthians 3:6

Have you ever planted a tree, flower, or other type of plant? You plant it, you give it the proper dirt, you water it, and on and on. However no matter how much care you give it, you can not command it to grow. You can not tell it to sprout forth and bloom. No, its growth is entirely beyond you.

Now the above verse is talking about divisions in the church. However, I am going to take it out of context to point out something very important. Apollos and Paul both worked, but God ultimately gave the growth. We work out our salvation in fear and trembling (Philipians 2:12), but the Holy Spirit that is at work within us gives us growth.

"For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."
~Romans 8:13

It is by the Spirit of God that we put to death the deeds of the body. We are completely dependent on his work. Does that mean mean that we just kick back and watch the Spirit do his thing? No! We need to plant and cultivate heart attitudes that glorify God and exemplify righteousness.

We have been saved through grace by faith. However it is not our own doing. Therefore we cannot boast, because it is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8,9). Just the same, we work, but we cannot take the credit. The growth is from God.

"Therefore my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence, but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works within you, both to will and work for his good pleasure."
~Philipians 2:12,13