“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” Matt. 17:5
THE above text is not the only time we read this “My beloved Son” phrase in Matthew. Mark and Luke repeat this in their gospels as well. I mention this to reinforce the theme from the preceding two comments that the Father loves His Son so much and is so pleased with him, that he wants the world filled with children just like him, thus highlighting the principle of Rom 8:29, that our Father has purposed that we be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Knowing this as the central theme and purpose of the Christian life can settle a heart and mind going through times of change that are often difficult.
I WANT to continue this thought, because it is such a vital topic. As I look out into my backyard anticipating the summer with family and friends, I can see various plants awaking to the beckoning spring, noting greenery giving evidence of proper care, and some plant life showing signs of neglect. Those of you who know me, know I enjoy “working in the yard,” tending to a variety of plants, trees, and vines. Again, it provides me not only with personal pleasure, but many fitting metaphors, lessons from the garden for the Christian life and my oft-repeated theme, “Gardens Just Don’t Happen.” (I think I’m beginning to drive my teachers and kids at school nuts with that phrase, beginning to see their eyes roll whenever I say it.)
BUT gardens just don’t happen, they take forethought, planning, preparation, planting and a lot of care and maintenance; and there is a difference between those last two. When I was a kid growing up, my parents owned a home on a big lot with vacant lots on both sides. Southern California wasn’t as populated then, and eventually houses would be built next to ours. But one of the joys for this young boy and his friends could be found in those vacant lots as the weeds grew to heights that made for wonderful forts and habit-trail construction. Great labyrinths could be made among the tall wild grass and tumbleweeds. Some of the most heroic dirt clods battles were fought there. The saddest sound was heard when the bulldozers arrived mid-summer with earth turning discs to plow the fields under and rid the ground of these troubling weeds, for they would be a fire hazard as they died off, turning yellow/brown in the fall. Though we sorrowed in the clouds of dust left behind by the soil grinding tractors, we smiled as new terrain for our field of play came into view, along with the sure knowledge that “those weeds” would return next year following the winter rains and spring showers. But here’s my point – those weeds that would return, just seemed to happen. The ground and the environment around contained an immense amount of inherent energy. Those weeds had no problem sprouting forth year after year in those seemly barren lots. But in the lots inhabited with houses and homes, on the other side of a wall or fence, a different story was played out. Weeds were not allowed to grow there, different things grew – “gardens just don’t happen”.
I’M going to stop this story here, and take it up from this point in the next comment. But as I recall these things, I always find it interesting what gets lodged in our remembrances, things that get planted in the mind over time. In the devotion below, I’m reminded of a time when I questioned a pastor about an unanswered prayer and desire in my life, and he quipped that God wouldn’t give me what I wanted, until He got from me what He wanted. I’m not sure about that generalization, but as I said it came to mind as I thought on the Micah 6 devotion below. This thing that pastor said so many years ago has stuck with me as one of those important principles of the Christian life.
MICAH 6:1-8 is a familiar passage, especially v8: He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? As I thought on this in the context of our previous consideration of Rom 8:29, it brought to mind that long forgotten comment of that beloved and faithful pastor. It would seem that the Lord is not only concerned with the things that we do, but the kind of person we are in the doing them. This brings to mind a reinforcing and favorite passage in Acts where Paul gives defense before Agrippa, saying in Acts 27:23, For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve. I don’t believe it is an accident that Paul phrases it just that way – whom I belong and whom I serve. By inspiration he speaks to the reality of “belonging” to, being owned by Him who is our all and all, our very purpose and goal first, prior to our service.
WITH that, here’s another consideration from Bent Knee Time, I pray to your blessing.
In the wondrous blessings of Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10, Isa 30:15 & Job 2:10
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NOT THINGS, BUT……
It is not things that our God wants. He wants us. And when we yield ourselves in glad obedience to him, his Spirit lives in us and reaches through us; it is himself in us, acting through our wills, who accomplishes what God requires. When he has his way in the life, it means first, a possession; then, a reshaping. And that makes our mental processes wise and just and kindly, and so all the acts of life that follow. –Bent Knee
