"Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 1:7).

     "All plants need some fertilizer every so often as there are many pests and diseases that will weaken and kill the plants if they are left to themselves.  Fertilizer is not medicine; it is  food to improve the quality or quantity of plant growth. 

     Many of the Lord's plants are not very vigorous so He has to use what is called a "root feeder."  It is a tool that injects fertilizer deep into the soil.  All the Lord's plants would have died if He hadn't made a very special fertilizer for them to ensure their life and growth.  

     This fertilizer is called grace, and He made it up with His sufferings and death (Heb. 2:10, 5:8-9).  It is such a powerful fertilizer that it always kills the "bugs and diseases" that 
would kill His plants.  

     His root feeder is suffering - suffering of any kind - and it is made up for our profit and growth (Heb. 12:10-11).  It is His gift to us (Phil. 1:29).  

     Let us stop poisoning our souls with this precious gift.  If fertilizer isn't mixed with water it will burn up the plants and so will our Lord's gift if it isn't mixed with the water of His word - His precious promises, believed, tried, and proven by our lives (Rom. 8:28, II Cor. 2:15).

     God has purposed suffering to kill suffering forever.  See the truth in the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is the blessing of the new covenant given to us to enable us to manifest His great glory (II Cor. 4:10-12).  

     Let us not lose heart.  Following our Lord will always lead to glory, here and hereafter, as we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen (II Cor. 4:16-18).  

     Oh Lord, open our eyes and enable us to behold more of Your glory!