File: /pub/resources/text/Our.Daily.Bread: db940411.txt
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          OUR DAILY BREAD                          Monday, April 11, 1994
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          Read:  Psalm 1

                                  LET'S GET GROWING

                         Grow in the grace and knowledge of
                          our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
                                    2 Peter 3:18

          Several years ago my interest in flowers had our home  resembling
          a  nursery.  There's  something  about the  presence  of  growing
          plants  that I find very enjoyable.  As I daily  inspected  their
          progress,  I gained from my little green friends a new  apprecia-
          tion of the joy and necessity of the wonderful process of growth.

          As  Christians, we too are like plants.  We should put  down  our
          roots,  break up through the earth, spread out our branches,  and
          burst  into blossom.  Such a thriving condition,  however,  isn't
          always  evident in our lives.  It's so easy to become  bored  and
          listless in the bland routine of our daily activities.  Often  we
          just  hang  on and merely exist without  moving  steadily  toward
          maturity and fruitfulness.

          At  such  times we are at a spiritual standstill and  must  allow
          Jesus  the "Sun of Righteousness" (Mal. 4:2) to warm  our  hearts
          anew with His love.  We must send our roots deep into the Word of
          God by meditating on it day and night (Ps. 1:2).  Then we will be
          like  a fruitful tree planted by rivers of living water, and  our
          branches will extend outward in an ever-increasing influence  and
          witness.  They  will  be filled with blossoms  that  reflect  the
          beauty of righteous living.

          If we've become dormant, let's get growing!

          Author:  Martin R. De Haan II

                             If God can make a tiny seed
                               Into a flower so fair,
                          What can He make, O soul, of thee
                          Through study, faith, and prayer?
                                        Anon.

          THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
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          When growth stops, decay begins.

          THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Psalms 1-3











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