Instagram Jesus Week 2: Devotional Day 2

Instagram Jesus Week 2: Devotional Day 2

DAY 2 – Tuesday Daily devotional

Read

1 Corinthians 3:9 

Ask

How are you cultivating joy?

Reflect

A few years ago while we were down in Fresno, California we spent a day visiting a friend’s family fruit farm. This was my first ever experience of seeing the huge orchards, fields, machinery and distribution system involved in growing and delivering the fruit we buy in our grocery stores. The same pluots with dinosaur stickers on that we can buy in our local Costco start out life on this farm. It was such an incredible experience of learning along with my kids where our food comes from. 

We often think of the fruit of the Spirit as something that happens instantaneously without any effort on our part. But today’s passage reminds us that we are God’s co- workers. We have a part to play. We are designed to cultivate that fruit, in partnership with the Lord. Just like the workers at my friend’s farm work as a team to water, weed, protect the plants from bugs and harvest the fruit, we have a part to play in cultivating joy.

I find the image in 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 really helpful to understand our part in this process. Paul here is speaking of spiritual growth. He says “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” This passage helps us to understand our place and role. We take an active part in cultivating the right environment for fruit, and God is the one who gives the growth. I love that this passage reminds us that we don’t do this work alone!

How can you partner with the Lord to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit in your life today?