Grow Like a Lima Bean
1 John 2
Right now, our garden is in full swing! I love planting seeds or small seedlings that I’ve purchased, and watching them grow. There is something about preparing the soil and digging around in it and tenderly caring for the sprouts that poke their heads up. I check my garden just about every day, sometimes more than once. I make sure there is enough water and when I see any type of bug or disease that doesn’t belong, I’m careful to take care of the situation. We also have larger pests like ground squirrels and gophers. My strawberries were just beginning to turn red and I was excited to show them to my grandchildren so they could pick them. When I took them to my strawberry fountain, there were no strawberries to be found! My husband found the culprit the next morning – a squirrel just sitting on the stone leisurely having his breakfast!
When the grapes and berries and fruit trees begin to ripen, we net them or hang strips of foil to help keep the birds away. Although I love the sound of the birds, and it is special when they choose a place in our yard to nest, I know they can wreak havoc with the fruit harvest. So we do what we can to limit their consumption.
It’s interesting that some things we grow seem to mature quickly and continue producing throughout the summer and fall. Other things, like the grapefruit take months and months to mature! Melons are the same way. Perhaps one of the fastest growing and most prolific yielding crop we grow are of the legume type. Pole beans and snap peas seem to have an almost continuous yield and quick growth.
Remember growing lima beans in school? For many of us, it was the first time we saw a ‘seed’ sprout and grow leaves!
1Jo 2:1-2 says My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for [those of] the whole world.
The author is writing to new Christian converts. The information he reveals to them is help keep them from falling into sin and thus ‘missing the mark’ of a believer. Encouragement is given in the way of a reminder that the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ keeps them in a favorable relationship with God. Through Jesus, all sin has been reconciled.
What do we understand from this?
We need an intercessor. His name is Jesus.
a mediator, a negotiator, someone who acts as a link
We need an intercessor because we are sinful.
transgress against God
There is hope to live a life not ruled by sin.
a certain expectation, a promise
Jesus is the link to our Father God.
Ro 8:34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, [and] one mediator also between God and men, [the] man Christ Jesus,
Heb 7:25 Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Heb 9:24 For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a [mere] copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;
Consider. How does a lima bean grow? Always towards the light. One resource I did not mention in my description of gardening is the light. It is crucial. It is what healthy seedlings grow towards. Scientifically, this is called phototropism. This process is easily seen in a sunflower. It will bend towards the light in order to maximize its exposure to make energy. A plant’s growth and strength are dependent upon the light.
God is the source of our light, are you reaching for Him? Are you using every available means to maximize your exposure to Truth?
Jas 1:17 Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.
God created the light.
Ge 1:3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.
Isa 45:7 The One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the LORD who does all these.
God’s light leads His people.
Ps 78:14 Then He led them with the cloud by day, and all the night with a light of fire.
Ac 9:3 And it came about that as he journeyed, he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;
Ac 12:7 And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter's side and roused him, saying, "Get up quickly." And his chains fell off his hands.
God’s light casts out darkness and gives us understanding.
Ec 2:13 And I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.
Joh 3:20-21 "For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 "But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."
The better thing is to resist temptation completely; however, when we fail, and we certainly will, we need not despair because Christ is the One who makes us acceptable to God.
1Jo 1:8-9 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Think of the privilege you have as God’s child. Free from sins’ possession, held up in God’s promises. Is your hope founded in the mercy and grace of God through His Son?
How do we know if we’re growing well, if we’re growing towards the Light?
We will keep His commandments (1 John 2:3-4)
We will keep His word (1 John 2:5)
We will abide in Him and walk in His manner (1 John 2:6)
None of this is new information. It is knowledge available to all who call themselves children of God.
1Jo 2:7 Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard.
God’s children have a Light that is living and shining! We have the true embodiment of light in Jesus Christ.
Those who are growing towards the light
Will love their brother (1 John 2:9-11)
Have forgiveness of their sins (1 John 2:12)
Have strength in Christ to overcome sin (1 John 2:13-14)
Our lives will show the affections of our true love.
1Jo 2:15-16 Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
Mt 6:24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Ro 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Jas 4:4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Consider what happens to a small seedling when it does not receive nourishment or light. It may sprout up for a time and even look strong and healthy but eventually it will wither, it will succumb to drought or disease and die. Only the healthiest plants survive. These are the ones that have grown roots in fertile soil and gather water through their roots and push their leaves towards the light. These are the ones that will last and grow strong and yield a produce. (1 John 2:17-19) Where do you get spiritual nourishment? God’s word contains all we need to remain strong in Him. Tendrils reaching out into the world will only pull us in the wrong direction.
God’s children have discernment between the things that are true and those that are lies. They will remain strong in the Truth. (1 John 2: 20-24)
1Jo 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;
Joh 14:6 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
We can have confidence in God’s promise of eternal life as we abide in Him. (1 John 2:25-29)
Joh 17:3 "And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.
1Jo 4:16-17 And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this, love is perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.
What does it mean to abide in God? Abide <meno> means to stay in a given place, state, relation or expectancy; to continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry.
Staying by God’s side – think protection; remembering our relationship with Him and most importantly, His relationship with us, what He did for us and continues to do.
Doing what is expected of His children – do we place ourselves in positions that encourage us to grow in our knowledge and understanding of God so that we know what His word says?
Continuing to strive to do what will honor God – even when it’s difficult or there is a way that seems better, even when it may cause pain or someone may be unhappy with us or disagree.
Dwelling in God’s presence all the time. Instead of dwelling on our problems, how about dwelling on God’s promises? Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. Think about what encompasses your day. Consider. Spending our time pursuing the world, placing our thoughts anywhere but in Truth, striving for the things that are unprofitable to our relationship with God – all are robbers of abiding in God.
I love the word tarry in the definition of abide. Tarry paints a picture for us of lingering, of hanging around, of staying and resting awhile. This is a delight in a busy world! We find refreshment as we abide in God.
Grow like a lima bean! God will continually care for you as you abide in Him. As you continue to grow, He will provide all you need to be nourished and to remain strong. He is the light to reach towards. His truth is your strong foundation – plant your feet firmly in Him. When you are weary, rest in His shade and drink from His word. God is your protection from all things that threaten to uproot you. As you abide in your Savior, you will be amazed at the yield He will produce for His glory, all by His amazing grace.
