Strawberries - Visual Lesson

I learn best visually. God knows this and teaches me through pictures. I have been praying a lot about unity. I have been picturing our family as a crew team in a big long shell, rowing together through rapids - and having fun! This past week I kept thinking about little white flowers on the sides of the river…and strawberries. I researched characteristics of strawberries and discovered some really amazing things spiritually.

The first thing that struck me in thinking on strawberries is that you need to get on your knees to pick them.  Humility.  And -  the tiny beautiful white flowers that bloom on the plant.  Purity.  They are also heart-shaped and red.  Love.

Strawberries need lots of sun in order to grow.  We need the Son, Jesus.  They only grow well in moist ground.  We need spiritual water - the truth, the Word.  They are full of Vitamin C and are known to prevent cancer.

Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside.  The seeds are visible and can rub off easily.  We, bearing fruit for Christ should have visible seeds on the outside that rub off on people.

Strawberry plants propagate best by their roots.  They send out “runners” that then become “daughter plants”.  They spread like a ground cover.  This reminded me of children.  It could be our own children, but I think it relates also to the family of believers and people more mature in their faith strengthening ones younger in the faith.  We need to encourage, teach, send out runners so that “daughter plants” can cover more ground for the Kingdom.  In order to do this we need to be close to an individual, making sure they are abiding in the vine which is Christ Jesus.  Strengthening believers is not just a seed thrown and forgotten.  It’s like a family in unity, rooted in Christ, seeds visible and useful for evangelism.

So neither he who plants no he who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow.  1 Corinthians 3:7