man sharpeneth the countenance of his
friend.” (Proverbs 27: 17)
As we sharpen each other, we make
each other stronger, more useful and more
productive, for the glory of God. Why does
the “sharpening” occur so frequently?
Because we live together 24/7, we have
ample opportunity to do some sharpening.
And let’s not forget what else sharpens us:
“For the word of God is quick, and
powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit, and of the
joints and marrow, and is a discerner of
the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
(Hebrews 4: 12)
This is also a time when our pre-teens
may struggle to produce fruit. This is the
season when I remind them (and myself)
that it is the work of the Spirit to conform
us to the image of Christ, as we give control
of our flesh over to God. I teach my children that self-control really comes from
putting ourselves under God’s control.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, gentleness, good-
ness, faith, meekness, temperance: against
such there is no law.” (Galatians 5: 22–23)
Recently I had been praying and hoping
for a passion for Christ to make itself
evident in my children. I wanted to see a
transformation. I saw a glimpse recently as
one child was quoting Scripture to me in
regard to how the Lord was helping this
child deal with some challenges, and I realized that although this child hadn’t had
some sort of outward “spiritual experience,” the Word of God that I had sown
over the years was bringing inward change.
The sowing of seed, God’s Word, into their
minds was transforming their hearts. On
the inside, where I could not observe it,
metamorphosis was taking place; God’s
Word was doing its work.
“And be not conformed to this world: but
be ye transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that ye may prove what is that good,
and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
(Romans 12: 2)
Where’s the Fruit: In the
Higher Education Years
The teen-to-adult years tend to be a
delightful culmination of reaping where we
have sown. Let me quote from the
September issue of the Schoolhouse
Support E-Newsletter:
We trained them in respect when
they were young, so are reaping
blessed companionship now. We
have sown discipline, so we are
reaping self-control and maturity.
We taught them how to learn and
how to teach themselves and are
reaping teens that can learn
anything and excel. We have sown
scripture and a biblical worldview
and are reaping young people who
are more interested in truth than in
cultural fads and foolish friends.
We have trained them in work and
service and are reaping the benefits of responsible young adults.
We do more than “survive” or
“endure” or “live to tell about it.“
We are blessed to be among those
who actually enjoy and are very
proud of their teens.
There is bounty not only for those who
labored, but also for those who just come
by to share in the fruit. This teen-to-adult-hood season becomes a time when they
learn to share with others, to start investing
themselves and their work with a perspective that is focused on eternal things.
Where’s the Fruit: In Us
What about us parents? Where’s our
harvest? Sometimes I feel like Sandy’s
corn stalks that produced so little corn.
Those stalks had the appearance of corn,
with their long stems and green leaves and
looking bountiful from a distance, but
upon closer inspection, they were found to
be fruitless and useless to the planter. I
remembered again the fig tree that looked
so beautiful but had nothing to offer Jesus.
Ouch. How many times have I put more
effort in making myself look good or
making my house look good or desiring
that my children look good (or at least
make me look good), yet failing to offer
anything of substance to Jesus? So many
times I have been fruitless and useless to
the Planter. My desire is to produce fruit
for Him, and I desperately want to raise my
children to do the same. Let’s ask the
Sower to plant, water, and bear in us fruit
that lasts, so that the seeds of the Word of
God will go deep and the cares of the
world will not choke them out. (See
Matthew 13: 18–23.)
Death Brings Forth Life
One year while looking at all the fall
colors, I realized that only God can make
death look beautiful. Only God can create
life from death. As the leaves change color
and die, they provide a new beauty to
behold. In the same way, we must die to
ourselves in order to become beautiful,
fruitful parents who will bear fruit: “Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of
wheat fall into the ground and die, it
abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth
forth much fruit.” (John 12: 24)
Not only can God create life from death
in our own lives, but He also says He will
multiply the seed that we are sowing and
increase our fruit. This is a wonderful
promise:
And God is able to make all grace
abound toward you; that ye, always
having all sufficiency in all things,
may abound to every good work: (As
it is written, He hath dispersed
abroad; he hath given to the poor:
his righteousness remaineth for
ever. Now he that ministereth seed
to the sower both minister bread for
your food, and multiply your seed
sown, and increase the fruits of
your righteousness;) being enriched
in every thing to all bountifulness,
which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. ( 2 Corinthians
9: 8–11)
Consider Your Ways
Sandy asked us to consider ourselves and
our families: “Is there unity or division, joy
or sorrow, humility or pride? Are you
washing your children with the water of the
Word? May we be faithful to water our
plants with Jesus, who is the Living Water,
and in doing so, may we produce a harvest
of much fruit.”
“Blessed is every one that feareth the
LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou
shalt eat the labor of thine hands: happy
shalt thou be, and it shall be well with
thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by
the sides of thine house: thy children like
olive plants round about thy table.” (Psalm
128: 1–3)
