Lately, against all apparent current of my life, I have become almost addicted to gardening. Almost all my life I would say I hated gardening. It was the last thing I wanted to do. And then I started. I began to hoe and to sow, to plant and to reap. The long-neglected garden began to bloom under my touch. I became the 'boss' of the garden as it's main attendant although the kids help out usually every day and Dad comes and lends a hand where he can. And now, shockingly to all my family and friends, I love it! I guess this is the background to my post because working in it so much, it is naturally in my thoughts and therefore, (this could perhaps sound silly) in my prayers as well...
On my daily prayer walk some weeks ago I was praying for my garden - I think I had planted potatoes the day before - when the thought of a quote I had heard of popped into my head.
The parable of the seed reveals that God is at work in nature. The seed has in itself a germinating principle, a principle that God himself has implanted; yet if left to itself the seed would have no power to spring up. Man has his part to act in promoting the growth of the grain....There is life in the seed, there is power in the soil; but unless an infinite power is exercised day and night, the seed will yield no returns. The showers of rain must be sent to give moisture to the thirsty fields, the sun must impart heat, electricity must be conveyed to the buried seed. The life which the Creator has implanted, He alone can call forth. Every seed grows, every plant develops, by the power of God.—C.O.L. 63.
Note. "The life which the Creator has implanted, He alone can call forth." While this is amazing at it's surface level, to think that every seed which sprouts and grows is called forth by the voice of God, there is more to this parable then meets the naked eye. As I thought and prayed about this substantial miracle, God unveiled a whole new level of understanding to me.
God calls forth each seed. For what? To grow, to flower, to fruit, to bless the animal kingdom and humanity and to be fruitful and finally to die, leaving behind it a legacy for the following generations. God has also also called forth each of us, each of those to whom is imparted the knowledge of His love and unselfishness.
Like the plant, we have not just been called out for our benefit alone. The plant is not called to live a life of self-service. And just like the seed, we are called to be of service to others. To bring a breath of fresh air to the earth by being in connection with the Father and a palace of the Holy Spirit. Our duty is to beautify our environment with our cheerfulness and heaven-sent joy, the heavenly songs running through our heart. To bear fruit for the kingdom, live for the glory of God and the benefit of humanity and to be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice - the sacrifice of giving our lives - if we are called to do so.
But the 'called out' life is not one of only sighs and trials and sacrificing. In living this life in service of God and others, we are promised sustenance and the provision of everything we need:
Like the lilies of the we need not worry about what we will eat or what we will drink or what we will wear. If we are in the service of the King, He provides the logistics, we provide the tool. When we are following God's plans and direction, we have nothing to fear and nothing to be anxious for. God will provide for God has called us forth.
Has God called you forth? Have there been times when He has provided your needs or wants in miraculous ways?
No comments:
Post a Comment