Today celebrates something that has been around for a very long time, however, the official celebration of it has only been around since 2018. Today is National Gardening Day. The first garden sprung into life in Genesis 2:8. “And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.” Since then, man has planted gardens seasonally, usually with great anticipation.
Gardening season starts early for some as they peruse seed catalogs. Gurneys, Burpee, Baker Creek, Johnny’s, and many other catalogues offer a wide range of seeds and plants that cause the eager gardener to salivate! Once you catch the fever, it’s hard to contain yourself. Every warmer day makes you want to start tilling the garden, setting lines, and doing everything you can to hasten the planting season.
Through the year, watching the plants grow big, healthy, and productive is its own reward. Far too quickly, though, harvesting begins and the season quickly comes to an end.
What if I told you that you could garden year-round. Would you be interested? Let me share an old illustration that has been tweaked through the years but still bears truthful fruit to consider.
Plant three rows of squash: 1. Squash gossip; 2. Squash criticism; 3. Squash indifference. Romans 12:10-11 reminds us to “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; (11) Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.”
Plant four rows of peas: 1. Purity; 2. Patience; 3. Perseverance; 4. Prayer. Ephesians 6:18 says, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”
Plant six rows of lettuce: 1. Let us be unselfish and loyal; 2. Let us be faithful to duty; 3. Let us search the scriptures; 4. Let us not be weary in well-doing; 5. Let us be obedient in all things; 6. Let us love one another. 1 John 4:7-8 says, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (8) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”
No garden is complete without turnips (turnups): 1. Turn up for church, prayer service and Bible study; 2. Turn up with a smile, even when things are difficult; 3. Turn up with determination to do your best for God’s cause. Hebrews 10:24-25 admonishes, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (25) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
After planting, may you, “Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18″.
Let’s make our church one big garden. Consider yourself a gardener today as you come to the service. Plant the squash, peas, and lettuce. And don’t neglect turning up for the services.
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