Today, my daughter and I refurbished her flower beds. You can imagine how they looked, having been left all winter. She began early this morning to pull out weeds. Later in the day, I began helping her to pull out the rest of the weeds, finding the perennials coming up under the weeds and leaves that had fallen during the winter.

We bought a few new perennials at the store, along with potting soil and fertilizer. She chose perennials instead of annuals, since they are supposed to come up from year to year. And, most of the time, they do. We began replacing those flowers that had either died, or just never came back up.

Christians are like flowers, in some ways. A Christian starts out in ?full bloom? - wanting to learn all about the Lord. They begin their eternal walk earnestly. But, some, along the way, lose their zeal for the Lord. They become somewhat wilted, if not completely wiped out! Those that last a life time can be called ?perennials?, whereas those that lose their zeal could be called ?annuals?. They are constantly having to battle satan, because they have become . . .

Today, my daughter and I refurbished her flower beds. You can imagine how they looked, having been left all winter. She began early this morning to pull out weeds. Later in the day, I began helping her to pull out the rest of the weeds, finding the perennials coming up under the weeds and leaves that had fallen during the winter.

We bought a few new perennials at the store, along with potting soil and fertilizer. She chose perennials instead of annuals, since they are supposed to come up from year to year. And, most of the time, they do. We began replacing those flowers that had either died, or just never came back up.

Christians are like flowers, in some ways. A Christian starts out in ?full bloom? - wanting to learn all about the Lord. They begin their eternal walk earnestly. But, some, along the way, lose their zeal for the Lord. They become somewhat wilted, if not completely wiped out! Those that last a life time can be called ?perennials?, whereas those that lose their zeal could be called ?annuals?. They are constantly having to battle satan, because they have become complacent and haven't continued to keep their eyes on the Lord and study the Word.

The ?perennial Christian? will always be joyous, following after the Lord, regardless of what the world puts at his/her doorstep. Nobody will be able to deter him from his zest of the Word or his love of the Lord. But, the ?annual Christian? is easily swayed by worldly things. He may begin to lay out of church, until he/she finally just stops coming. The ?annual Christian? may completely lose touch with the Christian world.

Check out your flowers. Are they blooming profusely, or have they began to dry up and wither away? Do they need fertilizer (reading or hearing of the Word)? Do they need to be placed in a new pot (the Church)?

Romans 12:2 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.

2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

Copyright 2005 by Barbara Sanders, Empire, AL. Used by permission.
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