Roots

You know that feeling you get when you work really hard on something but are unsure whether it will pay off in the end? Maybe for something work related, or surprising a friend for a birthday party comes to mind. That's sort of how I felt after I propagated some of my succulents.

Propagating might seem similar to pruning, but it's actually quite different. When you prune a plant, you are removing what's dead to ensure the nutrients go to the remaining parts and are not wasted on a piece that's already too far gone. When you propagate, you are removing a perfectly healthy piece of the plant in hopes that a new baby plant will begin to sprout in addition to the mother plant.

And so this is what I did. I had probably 9 different kinds of succulents, and decided to try to make lots of baby plants. I was super excited to be able to research and practice all I learned about propagating my plants. I picked dozens of the leaflets off and placed them in my window sill. It wasn't until after I finished that I realized something; now I had to wait.

I felt so jittery, I wanted them to bloom quickly! But as time has gone on, I've realized time is very necessary and crucial during this period. The leaflet needs time to callous which can take up to a week. After what felt like a month (it was literally only 10 days) my little leaflet began to search for water and sprout little roots. The excitement that pulsed through my body seemed a little ridiculous considering it's only a plant. But I noticed a spiritual significance within the plants I had been tending to and hoping would grow.

"...for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

- Galatians 6:7-9

"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building."

-1 Corinthians 3:6-9 

As Christians we love to meet people and form friendships. Sometimes we don't know if the efforts we are putting into a particular friend seem to meet our standards. Is it worth giving them our time? Do they really care about what we are sharing with them about God? Usually time will tell. But if we become careless in the beginning stages of our friendships and unwilling to put forth time, who knows what we could potentially miss out on.

I've paid so much attention to my succulents in these past few weeks. I look at them multiple times a day to see if there's a difference between what they look like in the morning and in the evening. Lots of waiting and misting and watching has been given to them. But we must also be willing to put the love, care, and time that is needed in order for our friendships to grow. Much is at stake if we don't. We don't always know how God is working in the hearts of others, but we can trust that He is. If we are faithful to sow and entrust ourselves to those God has placed in our lives, strong roots can form, and beautiful friendships are able to blossom. I'm sure there are so many biblical truths found here. But a reminder to keep trusting God to work even when we don't see results is always welcomed.

Good and Evil

Genesis 3:1-7

[Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. 
He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?'" 

And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" 

But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.]

There are so many things resonating in my spirit about this passage and the words that follow. The first thing is that God created the serpent. The serpent didn't have any power or ability that God hadn't given him. The second thing I notice is that God warned Eve of the consequences of disobedience were she to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil; he told her she would surely die. She was seeking a desire of wisdom from an object instead of her Creator. When she looked at the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, it was delightful to the eyes. It seemed good for food, but what was the cost?

This is what sin is in our lives. From the outside it seems harmless and desirable. But really, it's deceitful and deadly. Although Eve might have thought eating the fruit was okay, Adam should have stood by his convictions and said "no!" Don't just follow the crowd. Crowds lie! In regards to Jesus, look at the crowd that shouted "Crucify him" less than a week after they shouted "Hosanna" at the Damascus gate. We need to be willing to stand up and be a peculiar people, a people that lives out biblical convictions.

Lastly, this scripture shares that Adam and Eve's eyes were opened, and they knew they were naked, so they sewed fig leaves to cover themselves. There are things of this world that are not worth seeing or knowing. Things within tv or movies, song lyrics, music videos, commercials, billboards, so many things that ruin our minds. When we crave something that isn't best for us, we become more in tune with the things of this world rather than heavenly things. The fig leaves used to cover their bodies didn't make it so God couldn't see them, or that Adam and Eve couldn't see one another. God created them! We can't try to cover up and hide from God when He made us and can see right through us. Later in the scriptures, there is a dialogue between God and Adam. When Adam is hiding, God asks "Where are you?" This isn't because God doesn't know where Adam is. Rather, God is making sure Adam is aware that he is in fact hiding from his Creator.

Are you in hiding?

To Each His Own

A book I read today discussed John 21 and how Peter responded to a couple of things Jesus said. Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him and to feed His sheep. A few verses later, Jesus tells Peter that he will be a martyr. 

Wait. A what? 

That's right- a martyr. He would be crucified for the cause of Christ. And what does Peter do? He turns to face John the disciple and asks "Lord, what about this man?" 

I think sometimes we have this mindset. We have a sweet encounter with God, but the minute we feel someone else's life looks more enjoyable, we question our own. Instead of being grateful for the life we have, we yearn for what others have. And eventually these desires begin to overload our hearts and take the place of God in our lives. The bible says we should have no other gods before the Father and that we shouldn't make idols. 

Regardless of how John's life would play out and end, Peter should have been pleased to know that he had a role in the Kingdom of God and His plan for the future. That through obedience and a willing spirit, he would be able to accomplish things unlike any other. No other individual will ever be exactly like Peter. In scripture, miracles occur after the obedience of man. Obedience won't come if we're constantly looking to the right and left and comparing our lives and personalities to those around us with a critical spirit. Peter had to take his eyes off man and put them back on the Lord in order to move forward. 

Sometimes we get so caught up in seeing what others have, or better yet, what we don't have, and stop trusting that God knows what's best for advancing His Kingdom. The Lord has given each of us our own calling and burdens to carry. Let's challenge ourselves to stop wasting time, and start focusing on saving souls to join us in Heaven. 

Subtle and Cunning

I recently began reading another book by Fulton Oursler, it's called The Greatest Book Ever Written. It's one of three in a set. I just recently began reading the book so I'm still only a few chapters in. But Oursler is an incredible writer who takes scripture and puts it in a narrative form. He uses the context of scripture to expand a little bit in order for the reader to feel the emotion that Biblical figures probably felt. [If you can't tell, I highly recommend it!] 

This particular book focuses on instances from the Old Testament and yesterday I read about Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. A few pages in, Oursler describes the serpent in Genesis as "subtle and cunning." I can't stop thinking about how this reflects sin in our lives. 

I immediately thought of this passage from Proverbs 18- "Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment."

So the serpent, who represents sin in our lives, tried really hard to make sin seem appealing. And Proverbs says that it's dangerous to isolate ourselves. There's something about being alone that can so easily tempt us to do things that hinder our walk with God. I heard once that good character is doing what's right even when no one is watching. What I didn't know then is that even if you think no one is watching, you're still accountable for your actions to God. I can't help but be grateful that God intended for us to live in fellowship among other people who are capable of holding us accountable and pushing us closer to Jesus. 

Alpha and Omega

Talking to people about Jesus is the best thing in the world. If you have a chance to talk about Jesus, you should.

If that's not enough, maybe this will convince you of the importance and the joy of sharing Jesus with others. 

A conversation today brought up the idea of Jesus being Lord and Savior. For many Christians, this isn't something that is always evident in our lives. It's simple for people to see faults in their life and to realize they can't depend on themselves and accept Jesus as Savior of their lives. But this doesn't necessarily mean that those people live their lives as though Jesus is the lord over their life. Not just a lord, but the lord. 

Let me just say this: Jesus is King. He is reigning, and ruling and will continue to reign and rule for all of eternity. 

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." -Revelation 22:13

Now if you serve a king, you can't offer him half of you. He gets all of you. If you don't give 100% to your king, you can be considered a traitor and guilty of treason. So why should Jesus be any different? He is the only eternal King that will reign forever. His value is above and beyond anything we could give up to make Him Lord of our lives. Jesus will not accept anything less than people who are sold out for Him. 

"So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." -Revelation 3:16

"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." - Matthew 12:30 

Submitting everything in our lives to Jesus and making him Lord is the best thing we can do. Not only accepting His blood to wash us clean, but living with conviction and evidence that Jesus is the King in our lives and the ultimate One that we serve. 

He is Enough

Imagine you're on your way to a store, or to class. Have you ever got out of your car and walked through a parking lot only to pass a spot that was much closer to your destination? There's a feeling of "awh man!" as though you could have had something better or more convenient. I was walking through the campus parking lot and was hoping I wouldn't find an open spot after I parked, just so I could feel like I got the best spot I possibly could. It's silly to think that a close parking spot can bring such satisfaction. But almost as quickly as I thought about the joy of getting the best spot, it left my mind. 

The satisfaction we receive from some things in our lives, whether they be feelings and emotions, materials, or achievements, is only temporary. Their effects don't last. 

But I'm grateful that God isn't like this.

Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." 

He is sufficient for us, He always sustains us, and He completely satisfies us. 

Vanity

One of my favorite artists has a song with the following chorus:

"Safety is not for sale.

(You can not buy peace of mind)

Earthly defenses fail

(There's nothing new under the sky)

Build your kingdom all your life

And say goodbye

In the end, in the end" 

Here is a few verses from Ecclesiates that relate to this song: 

18 I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, 19 and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. 20 So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun, 21 because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. (Eccles 2)

This is such a sad passage to me. Here on earth we work and set goals, but ultimately one day anything we gained will be lost to someone after us. And this person will either work just as hard to hold onto whatever it is, or hardly work and lose it all to a third party. How interesting to think that when I die, all that I have accumulated with be split among others. And sooner or later it will be lost. Essentially this says to me that no matter how hard I work for things, it won't matter after I die. Because then it becomes someone else's property. 

But then I continued on and read this passage from the same chapter: 

24 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, 25 for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? 26 For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. (Eccles 2) 

These verses give hope! It says God is the one that gives enjoyment, even while working! And that we receive joy and knowledge as we please God. But the sinner, the one living apart from God does not receive the joy that we Christians do. They have no true purpose apart from God. And because of this, the things the sinner seeks to accomplish on earth results in joyless toil. Work insinuates progress. Work is what we do for the Lord. But toil is useless repition with no eternal effects. 

This reminds me of Matthew when he says 

19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (6:19)

When we make Jesus our treasure, we could never be dissatisfied. And we could never get caught up in the middle of pointless toil. It becomes fruitful work that will never go to waste. Because what we work for as Christians is not earthly things, but ways to glorify God.