This weekend we will share our last Sabbatical Reflection at Bedford . Pastor Matt will also be preaching a special word God has laid on His heart. I feel led by the Lord to a morning I had in Psalm 37. This Psalm really spoke to my heart and God’s Spirit always speak through the Word of God if we will take our time and listen. I loved our Board Meeting on Tuesday Night as we also took time to study and talk about this Psalm. I will share their incredible insights this weekend. I focused on this verse:
Psalm 37:3 (NASB95)
“Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. “
Cultivating is working the ground so the plants can grow and bear fruit. Cultivating is taking out the weeds. I used to get a few bucks from my Grandpa Elarton to walk the rows of beans and cut out the jimson weeds. They would grow like a little tree, towering above the soy beans stealing the moisture and nutrients, blocking the sun. I would walk the rows with a how and hack them down and pull them up roots and all, as granpa said their roots to the most damage to the roots of the beans.
God has called us to be faithful like He has been to us. We are to “cultivate faithfulness”. Like farmers cultivate the crops. Removing what doesn’t belong so our faith, desires, and decisions remain faithful to God.
This looks different for each one of us, but yet the same. We must remove sin from our lives with the help and power of the Spirit. We need to remove hate, unforgiveness, gossip, slander, maybe a habit that is not bringing value to our lives. I know I have had to remove all of this including selfishness, and I have to keep removing them all, sometimes daily, as they want to come back. Cultivating is an everyday task for every believer.
We want to be faithful. We want to be Christ-like. We want the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. We want to represent the love of Jesus on this earth well. Remember the promises of God’s Word in Christ:
1 John 1:9 (NASB95)
9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NASB95)
13No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
Hebrews 10:23 (NASB95)
23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
I have also been studying and reading the Book of Ephesians as we will be starting a study in Ephesians at both campuses in September that will take us to December. Start reading and studying this incredible book. I am so excited. It will be some teaching and of course I am a preacher and will preach and teach through this incredible book.
Remember to slow down and be with Jesus. Take time daily to become transformed by Jesus through His Word, Prayer, Worship, Sabbath, Fasting, Hospitality, Celebration, Family, Serving, Giving, and joyfully living for Jesus. He loves us so much!
-Pastor Nate Elarton
nateelarton.com 
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