July 21, 2007
Coming to the Lord
Kathleen Maples
Psa 16:11
Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is
fullness of joy; at thy
right hand
there
are
pleasures forevermore.
What a promise this is to us. He has promised to show us the way that we may
walk in it. *(Isa_30:21). He wants us to understand how to enter in at the straight
gate, for narrow is the path that leads to life. (Mat_7:13) But what about the
presence of the Lord? How do we get there? How can we know we have entered His
presence? We will be satisfied, full, at peace, in awe. The restlessness and feeling of
emptiness or lack will be gone. There will be great pleasure and rejoicing and
gladness in our soul. It's a continual feast where we may feed on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and draw strength from Himand learn to know Him for ourselves.
Joh 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it
abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the
same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
We plant a garden behind our house every year, and have for the past three years
or so. I've learned some very important lessons and reaping and sowing and
planting and weeding. The first year, we just had a few tomatoes and cucumbers. I
took a tomato that was going bad and instead of throwing it away, threw it in a 5
gallon bucket of dirt and began to water it. It sure did shoot up strong and pretty
and so green. That home grown tomato smell was so appetizing. When the sprouts
came up and there were so many, I transplanted them in my backyard. I didn't
know very much about gardening, or that I'd already made a bad mistake. I didn't
prepare the ground very well, but the plants lived. I didn't realize my mistake until
the tomatoes began to grow and they were yellow and brown and not edible. I
learned you must start with good seed if you expect good fruit, or in thi