Spiritual Horticulture

Season 3 Episode 19 -- Engrafting is a common practice in horticulture.  Engrafting is the process of splicing a branch from one tree into another tree.  The spliced branch will retain its original desirable properties (such as the type of fruit, leaves, etc.), and will receive nourishment from the stock tree.  Did you know that this is a wonderful word picture for a foundational biblical principle?  Listen to this episode and find out more!

"Reflect on This" is a once-a-week, short devotional podcast, where I share what I am learning about following Jesus, through applying eternal biblical principles to life, in practical ways.  Not religion, but RELATIONSHIP - relationship with Jesus!
 
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Resources that inspired some episodes:

"Worship Is My Weapon" podcast by Rita Springer:  https://youtu.be/RucXhr1zYGU?si=WeVTpssmUP4rMXlL 

"My Heart, Christ's Home" by Robert Munger

"The Language of Rivers and Stars" by Seth Lewis

“Dream Small:  The Secret Power of the Ordinary Christian Life” by Seth Lewis

Seth Lewis blog:  https://sethlewis.ie/

35 Bible Verses About Listening To Others (Explained) - Bible Repository 

"Restoration Year: Devotions to Transform Your Relationships, Spirit, and Faith" by John Eldredge

"Boundaries" by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

"The Pleasure of His Company" by Dutch Sheets

"Fresh Air" by Chris Hodges

“The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts” by Gary Chapman

"The Lies We Believe: Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life" by Dr. Chris Thurman

Featured ministries and resources:
 
“Agape Puppets” (ministry)
This is an amazing world-wide ministry that uses puppet shows to reach children (and their parents) for Christ, in cultures that are generally not very open to the Gospel.  To learn more, go to: https://theagapepuppets.org/ 

"Manufacture Good" (ministry)
Manufacture Good is a Christian ministry that offers paid apprenticeships to men who need a second chance.  These apprentices learn biblical principles, character, and valuable woodworking and metalworking skills which lead to employment opportunities.  You can shop their catalog of fine home and office products, order a standard or custom piece of furniture, make a donation, and learn more about this amazing ministry, at: https://manufacturegood.org/.

"The World and Everything in It" (podcast)
This is a weekday 35-minute podcast that presents headline news, in-depth news articles, media reviews, and opinion pieces from a Christian world view.  Their stated mission is "biblically objective journalism that informs, educates, and inspires."
 
“Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage” (podcast) 
This is a once a week 30-minute podcast hosted by Greg and Erin Smalley, who head up the marriage team at Focus on the Family.  Each episode addresses a different aspect of marriage, using biblical principles, featured guests, practical advice, and a mixture of humor and candidness.  
 
Music credits:
Beauty by MaxKoMusic | https://maxkomusic.com/
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all

Transcript

Engrafting is a common practice in horticulture.  Engrafting is the process of splicing a branch from one tree into another tree.  The spliced branch will retain its original desirable properties (such as the type of fruit, leaves, etc.), and will receive nourishment from the stock tree.  

If we picture the stock tree as our soul, and the engrafted branches as the various passages of Scripture that we engraft and nourish through meditation, then we have a wonderful word picture from God of how His Word is to function within our soul (our mind, will, and emotions).   Each engrafted passage produces the rich spiritual fruit of what is being talked about in that portion of Scripture, and “is able to save our souls.” (see James 1:21)

Spending time each day reading the Bible is the way we engraft His Word into our souls.  But how exactly do we do that?  In a recent message from Pastor Mark Pettus, he outlined some foundational principles and practical suggestions for reading the Bible in such a way that we actually interact with God in the process.  I am including his outline in this episode, and adding my own comments and applications.

How do we engraft the Bible into our soul?

When your words came, I ate [consumed, ingested, devoured] them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty.  (Jeremiah 15:16 NIV) [Application:  We are not to merely read the Bible.  Instead, we are to eat, ingest, and devour the Bible!  This is the way to bring delight to our heart, and joy to our life.]

An acronym for a useful method to engraft the Bible is SOAP:

S -- Scripture

1) Pick a translation as your primary study Bible (considering both word-for-word and thought-for-thought translations, to determine what works best for you).  

2) Formulate and follow a plan.  It could be a one-year reading plan (there are many to choose from).  Or you could do a topical study, where you choose topics that are related to areas in which you need wisdom, strength, or comfort, or topics in which you have questions, doubts, or fears.  (There are many resources for these topical studies.)

O -- Observation 

This is the step in which we really dig into a passage, searching for the hidden treasures of wisdom, as the Bereans of the early church did:

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (Acts 17:11 NIV)

Pastor Pettus suggestions the following steps of observation:

Look – What does the passage say?

Listen – What is the Holy Spirit saying to us in this passage?

Learn – What insights can we glean from this passage by doing word studies of key words, reading the passage in different translations, looking at cross references, reading insights from other believers in commentaries, etc.?

A -- Application 

This step is so important!  If we do not move from merely gaining knowledge of the Scriptures to application of the Scriptures, we are not engrafting the passage.  We are not letting the passage change us, and not allowing the passage to produce rich spiritual fruit from that portion of Scripture.

Pastor Pettus suggests the following application questions to help us to find application of the passage to our life, using the acronym SPECK:

S — Is there a Sin to avoid?

P — Is there a Promise to claim?

E — Is there an Example to follow?

C — Is there a Command to obey?

K — Is there something to Know about God?

P -- Prayer 

This step is equally important!  Take what God has spoken to us through the interaction with Him in this passage, and turn it into a prayer to Him.  Ask God to help us in the life applications we have just identified, by giving us wisdom, courage, strength, and grace.  Praise Him for who He is.  Thank Him for speaking to you.  

Here’s a powerful suggestion: write down this prayer in your journal.  There is great power in the process of writing down what the Lord shows you.  It helps you to clarify the concept, and provides you with the ability to come back to it in the future, when you need a refresher or when you want to engraft this passage further.

If you don’t know exactly how or what to pray, you can start with turning portions of the passage into your prayer to God.  After all, what better words to use than the very words of God?

Will you join me in purposing to engraft Scripture into my soul on a regular basis?

Today, I encourage you to "Reflect on This."