“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”
John 15:11 (NIV)
There is a call to rejoice. This call is a directive found throughout the Bible and is therefore of great significance. Deuteronomy 12:7 (NIV) says, “There, in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord our God has blessed you.“ Yes, there is a command to rejoice that liberates us as God’s people. It aligns our hearts with the truth of God’s character and promises as we trust in His goodness despite life’s challenges.
Notably, for the husbandman to cultivate his land, he has to do several things:
- Soil preparation – tilling the soil is crucial for breaking it up, aerating it and preparing it for planting.
- Crop selection – he has to select the crop that will thrive in specific environments. This is vital for successful cultivation.
- Planting – in this process, he must select the right seeds.
- Effective management of pests and weeds to maintain healthy crops.
- He definitely has to consider irrigation and fertilisation to ensure growth and the necessary nutrients for optimal growth.
- He must harvest them at the right time.
Therefore, when considering cultivation, the husbandman must be knowledgeable, skilful, and adaptable.
We, brethren, have the All-Wise God as our husbandman who can keep us connected through our Lord Jesus so that we may be very fruitful.
In John 15:1-11, Jesus spoke to His disciples about love, joy, and obedience. He uses the metaphor of the vine and the branches to illustrate how important it is to abide in Him. In verse 11, He says, “These things have I spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” (NKJV). This verse highlights the importance and necessity of experiencing joy. Thus, we should pay much attention to cultivating joy in our lives. We do this by resting in Christ.
Joy is mentioned as a part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). At the same time, we are told to rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4). The Apostle Paul even mentioned that the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17). Joy is therefore an integral part of our walk with God.
So, as the farmer prepares the land for cultivation, let us prepare our hearts for Jesus. Hosea 10:12 (NKJV) says, “…Break up your fallow ground…“ Thus, we also ought to prepare the soil of our hearts for spiritual growth. The metaphor “fallow ground “ refers to unplowed, uncultivated and unproductive land. Spiritually, this means a heart that is hardened, complacent, and filled with thorns, such as pride, selfishness, and greed, which can choke us. Today, I encourage you to surrender your hearts for the husbandman, Jesus, to plough.
Read: Proverbs 6:6-8; Luke 14:28-30
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 133; 1 Peter 4; Ezekiel 47; Ezekiel 48