Jesus welcomed the people, taught them about the Kingdom of God and healed those in need. Luke 9:11
Testimony
God has shown me His love. That He truly cares for me and wants the very best for me. He has forgiven me for how I have been feeling towards Him and others. Forgiving the people who have hurt me is so freeing!.... Read More...

Seeds of the Kingdom

‘Self’ Seeded Corruption.

by Andrew White

For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Galatians 6:8, ESV

The other night I woke with pain in my shoulders after cutting down a 12m high birch tree, growing against the fence, very close to my neighbours’ house, earlier that day. Having ‘self-seeded’, it had grown amongst some roses. I’d left it there, thinking it would be difficult to remove at the time, and anyway it might screen off my neighbours’ conservatory as it grew. In a well-watered garden, fed by fertilizer meant for the roses, it soon grew to obscure my neighbours’ conservatory and house. I enjoyed the benefit it provided, without thinking of the consequences of its continued growth into maturity.

Then recently, while working at the other end of my garden, I looked back at my house and noticed the tree had grown considerably. It was now nearly four stories high, and so close to my neighbours’ house that the leaves and branches were touching windows on the two upper floors. On closer inspection, I saw the lower trunk was thick. The paper bark was stripping off to reveal the deep crevices of the mature trunk, which was beginning to push the fence post out of its vertical position and toward the neighbours’ conservatory. There was evidence that my gracious neighbour had attempted to remove some branches to avoid damage to his conservatory roof and first and second floor windows. With some help, I cut the tree down at the earliest opportunity.

As I lay in bed, the Lord began to speak to me, using the tree as a metaphor. He said the tree was like some ungodly aspects of my life. There were things which seemed harmless at first, little distractions, bringing worldly comforts and benefits. I’d allowed these behaviours and attitudes to grow unchecked, but after time they’d become traits. On deeper reflection, I realised they were prideful, judgemental, selfish, and damaging to my relationship with Him and others.

He gently showed me how my careless attitude toward this tree reflected my own selfish attitudes. I’d just ‘gone along with’, or allowed, certain things. If I’d thought and prayed about them, I would easily have seen these things weren’t right, fair or godly. But I’d continued to allow them, because they gave me comfort, pleasure, or benefit. I hadn’t realised, or cared about, how they might have been affecting others around me, or how they were dishonouring to God. Now there was evidence of damage in me, and others, whom I’d carelessly neglected.

Could you have a neglected corner somewhere, where untended attitudes or behaviours grow, and risk bringing corruption and destruction?

Prayer: Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Amen.(Psalm 139: 23-24).

Andrew White Having first come to Ellel Grange in 2009 seeking deep personal healing for the roots of health issues that had ended his secular career, Andrew attended the Modular school of Healing and Discipleship. He is now on the Associate Ministry and Teaching Teams at Ellel Grange. He enjoys using creativity to help people gain freedom and healing and to deepen their relationship with God.

 

Sign Up Now

Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship. Provided full acknowledgement is made to Seeds of the Kingdom as the source, you are also welcome to use it in a non-commercial way and reproduce it in magazines or other Christian websites. The copyright for any commercial use of the material remains with Ellel Ministries International.