Growing faith

When I am in the cellar of affliction, I look for the Lord's choicest wines.

My faith has no bed to sleep upon but omnipotence.

Millions of hells of sinners cannot come near to exhaust infinite grace.

Faith grows best in the winter of trials. 

- Samuel Rutherford

It is Feb. 26, 2017. Winter is almost gone, spring is already here.

One of my neighbors donated Aloe Plant along with a pot. 

We put the pot at the porch last Fall. 

This morning after the worship service we went out to the porch. And saw that during the winter the Aloe produced a baby aloe, right next to the "mother" Aloe. 

Mother Aloe

Baby Aloe

We transplanted the baby aloe from the pot to the soil at the front yard.

Three years ago I also planted cacti - which I call a twintower. At first they were about 12 inches, but now they are about 2 feet tall. 

Twin Tower

The cacti had hard times during the winters and summers. But they kept growing. 

We hope the baby Aloe does well. 

In today's daily bread passage (2 Thessalonians 1:4) The Apostle Paul thanks the Lord for the growing faith of the Thessalonians. He mentions that their faith grew despite persecutions and hardships.

This remark of the Apostle also reminded me of what Samuel Rutherford said: Faith grows best in the winter of trials.

Twp Points to ponder

- Nurture faith

Faith needs to be nurtured, for otherwise like plants it can wither and die (or it can be shipwrecked, as the Apostle says). 

The Lord set a good example for he kept nurturing the faith of Abraham in Genesis. Each time he wavered in faith, the Lord appeared to him and nurtured his faith by talking to him, often times taking him out for a walk, or asking him to look up into the night sky and count stars etc. Finally his faith grew as strong as a tamarisk tree. 

- Fruit

* In the end: in the daily bread passage (5-10) a rich welcome into His kingdom and glory

* In the meantime: as faith grows love increases. Faith promotes deed, causes every good desire to come to fruition (4,11-12)