Devotionals
My morning devotions are often a source for my articles. As I sit in my rocking chair on my back porch and ponder the morning’s devotions, God pours out His blessings and shares with me His thoughts on the things that I can see around me. Today was no different.
I am living in Texas and it is Labor Day as I explain God’s latest teachings to me. It has been a rather hot and dry summer. It seemed hotter than the previous five summers we have been here. Most of my flowers have fared really well, thanks to my husband taking the time to water every night. When we are gone, I have a wonderful friend who comes to water my yard. Her comment to me was, “I treat your yard as if it was my own. Your flowers are my babies too.” What a wonderful friend.
This morning though, I noticed a flower pot that had flowers growing out over it. Some of the flowers were still bright, very pretty and had much life left in them. The other part of the same flowers had not made it through the heat. There were many dead stems, leaves, and flowers. I thought later on in the day I would get out there and take the dead off, and leave the part that still had much life to live yet. God reminded me that was the way of the world.
As I began to think about removing the dead part from the living part, God reminded me that is the way it is with people. There are so many people who are living the Christian life. They are vibrant, beautiful and have the hope of an eternal life. They know they will die a physical death, but not a spiritual death. Once these flowers are dead, there isn’t much hope of bringing them back to life. A person who lives and walks with Christ knows there is an eternal home waiting for them. There is life after death. 2 Corinthians 5:1 says, “We know that our body, the tent we live in here on earth, will be destroyed. But when that happens, God will have a house for us. It will not be a house made by human hands; instead, it will be a home in heaven that will last forever.” In John 6:47 it adds this, “I tell you the truth, whoever believes has eternal life.” I have been around a long time and I can pretty much tell you if a person is walking with Christ (or going solo). Their speech reflects it, also their actions and even their attitudes. They are people you want to be around. They add beauty to our world.
Among these Christians, are those who have died (spiritually) or are dying. They have no life in them. They have no hope or can’t seem to see the bright side of anything. They are fading away. It says in 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9, “Then he will punish those who do not know God and who do not obey the Good News about our Lord Jesus Christ. Those people will be punished with a destruction that continues forever. They will be kept away from the Lord and from his great power.” Their life is a reflection of death. They have no hope of living an eternal life. Some have heard of God, but have decided to turn and walk away. Others have heard of Christ, but have decided this world has more to offer. Others are just putting off making a decision, waiting for the right time, waiting to become better, or just waiting until all the so called fun has run out.
So you see, the world is just like this flower; parts are living and vibrant and add beauty to it, and other parts are dying and are not always pleasant to look at. There is one big difference in this analogy. Once my flowers are dead they are dead. There is not any hope in bringing them back to life; so cutting the dead from them would not make any difference. But, there is hope for those who are walking among us without Christ in their lives. Those of us who are alive in Christ are challenged to reach out to those who don’t know Christ. We have a responsibility to bring Christ to them. We can show them the hope in knowing Christ that lives in us, that can bring them back to life in Christ. We can make a difference. It is up to each of us to make a difference in the life of someone who doesn’t know Christ.
Do you have a neighbor who doesn’t attend church? Pray for them regularly. Invite them to church, love them and reach out to them. Unless you are truly blessed, someone in your family or extended family doesn’t know Christ. This is another opportunity to help save the life of someone who is not living with hope. Many of us travel from one place to another. As we enter the Ladies Room or the Men’s Room, many times the first thing we see is the writing on the wall; you know, someone will write, Joe was here, or Mary loves John, or call me for a good time. Now I am not asking you to add your own comments, but what would it hurt if you would take a piece of paper and write down scripture and leave it for the next person? Yes, it may get thrown out, but it could be just the one thing someone needs to read to help them get back on the right path. Saying a kind word or doing a good deed for those who are not among the “living with hope in Christ,” might just change the attitude of one person. Sharing God’s love and message with those who need to hear it most is what it is all about. Matthew 9:12 says, “But when he heard this, He said, ‘It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.’” Too often we share our story with those who already know the truth. It is very rare for any of us to share what God has done for us with those who really need to hear it.
We have people around us who are dying, who have no hope and have no light in their lives. It is up to each of us not to rid ourselves of these folks but to nurture them, water them and share the message of God’s love, grace and mercy with them. “I (Paul) planted the seed, Apollos watered it but God made it grow...” I Corinthians 3:6-7 “Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.’” Matthew 9:37-38.
While I am cutting off the dead from my flower, I will be praying for God to send me to those who don’t know him, who have no hope. There is a harvest full of weeds we can turn into a bouquet of flowers. Won’t you join me?
Dear Lord,
As I cut away the bad spots from my flowers, remind me of those who need to hear a kind word, receive a loving touch, or who need help finding their way to you. Bring them to me, or better yet, take me to them. Help me to be aware of my neighbors, friends, or even family who are living outside of the hope that is in knowing you and your love for them. As I pass strangers on the street or in the stores help me to pass on hope, offer grace and show mercy to them. May I take a weed and help nurture it back into a beautiful bouquet just for you. Help me as I reach out to others. Give me the words, the actions, and the attitude to treat them as I would my family. Thank you for the opportunity you will give me to nurture them and make them beautiful in your sight once again. I love you Lord, and I must remember that you created them just as you created me; and it is up to me to help them be the creation you meant for them to be. Amen.
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