Borrowing soil

Our speaker last week, Matt Rawlins spoke on "Fear of the Lord". It was a very challenging topic and I didn't have very much time to process it all. I did go back and listen to one of the days that he spoke on the podcast that we have available Click Here. It took me about 2 hours to listen to a one hour lecture since I had to pause every ten seconds to write down certain quotes that really hit my heart.

One thing that I just barely caught was that we can borrow other peoples soil. In other words we can borrow other peoples experiences and revelation of God and use it to help us in trusting and obeying God. Now this is something that I do all the time. When I listen to speakers here or go to church on Sunday and hear the preacher share his revelation, I can usually come away with something that encourages me or gives me a boost of faith.

This made me think about my life and how many people have spoken into my life. How much soil I have borrowed from other people. I have to admit that it feels pretty good when I get to hear the latest revelation from some of my favorite pastors. Its like I just got some nice, fresh, dark soil. It looks good and it feels good at first but how long does it last before the wind blows it away, or the rain washes it away? I eventually loose grip of these revelations and then I'm back to needing more.

I am not saying that listening to sermons is pointless and that sharing revelation is meaningless. I am saying that it is important to work that soil down deep where my roots are so that I can use it to grow. I want to take that revelation and use it to build faith so that in obedience I may know/experience God. Simply, revelation requires a response.

James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.