Do You Have A Fond Memory of Growing In God’s Love?
Good Morning Friends,
I just constructed and seeded a raised bed in the back yard and nothing has sprouted yet, but I already have an internal motivation to keep the plants alive and thriving. And as I remember past gardens I have had over the years I think about how sometimes there was a struggle to get a crop and at other times the harvest seems so easy. I think it interesting that the remembering of seeing things grow also echoes the importance of the Spirit in faith growing in communities. It is interesting that our memory allows us to revisit experiences so vividly after so many years. The point though is to remember often the joy of Jesus in our lives and God’s faithfulness, so we might discern God’s will. When this memory and our hope converge, our faith is born anew. And as the light grows in us we tend to have a greater capacity to love. So, recall often the grace and the enthusiasm of this first love with God. Reclaim the memory so as not to lose that most beautiful of experiences which nourishes our desire for a bountiful harvest of hope. Do You Have A Fond Memory of Growing In God’s Love?
Scripture: He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.” He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.
Mark 4:26-34 (NRSV)
But recall those earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and persecution, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion for those who were in prison, and you cheerfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves possessed something better and more lasting. Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet “in a very little while, the one who is coming will come and will not delay; but my righteous one will live by faith. My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.” But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.
Hebrews 10:32-39 (NRSV)
O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name. My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips when I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
Psalm 63:1-8 (NRSV)
I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
John 17:26 (NRSV)
Message: Today we reflect on how things grow, and the focus is not just our emotional growth or our growth in faith or even growth of plants, but the growth in our relationships and how we remember them spiritually. Today we contemplate the whole idea of growing in love. And friends, being in love is amazing and being in love with God is mind blowing. We were created by God with appetites for this kind of pleasure and fascination. Growing a garden in our souls is not boring. And we should not settle for a facsimile or imitation of this though earthly gardens are fulfilling too. The thing is that many people do not know what they are missing when it comes to a love relationship with God. And yes, we are meant to be stunned and awestruck by this love and meant to be amazed and captivated by God’s glorious light of life. For here God shines a light on a new way where we live a life of faith over fear and moreover live a life of abundant love in Christ. So, friends, remember why you were saved and keep growing. Protect your salvation and grow and bear its fruit. Do not forget about God. Remember the hope that does not disappoint. Remember often the joy of Jesus in your life and God’s faithful love. Be thankful for all the memories of God’s love in our experiences. Just as David writes about his memory of worshipping God in today’s Psalm we too are to discover that God is worthy of spiritual love. When we remember how faithful God is, we glimpse God’s will that we love and grow in love too. Here we realize that we are to grow in love and remember and cherish the experience but also to be patient in love as God has been patient with us. Here we can remember even as we wait for love to grow that it might be a good day to water the garden.
Pray we never forget our first love of God. Pray that we have the hope and memory of God’s love each day. Pray we recall the experience of God in our own growth history. Pray we have patience and forbearance. Pray we realize that God’s plan begins small but grows large. Pray we give growth a chance. Pray remember the hope planted in us. Pray we realize that growth is not overnight and that there are cycles and seasons for God’s perfect timing. Pray we realize that to sustain growth we need wisdom and we need discernment to grow like Jesus.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 