Corona Devo 3141

Our Nation of America will commemerate its 250th birthday this year, and that's something worth celebrating.  And, if you are my husband...it's something worth decorating.  

Over the past few days, our home (inside and out) has received a star-spangled make-over.  Our house (and hearts) are publicly patriotic, and we could not be more proud to live in this strong and wonderful Nation that was founded by God-fearing men and women.  Our current red, white, and blue home deco publicly demonstrates the happy-pride that we feel in our hearts.

One of the recent additions to our front porch is an artificial tree, and my husband just placed the tree out there a couple days ago, and yet yesterday when he went to string some lights on it, he found a brand new, (yet) full-blown, intricately-woven and finished birds nest planted firmly in the fake branches. 

We just put the tree out there, and in no time, (and with no notice by us) a nest has been built in its branches.  

When did that happen?, I wondered?   And how...without us seeing any bird-motion?  

~~~

He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. (27) Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. (28) All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. (29) As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”  ~Mark 4:26-29

Jesus explains many of His parables to His hearers...but not this one. We are left to figure it out for ourselves.

Can we?

He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like.
A man scatters seed on the ground.
(27) Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.
(28) All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.
(29) As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”  ~Mark 4:26-29

~~~

Jesus is speaking an (almost) relieving truth to us here: 

Share the Word of God with others, Yes.  Teach the Word of God to others, Yes.  Live the Word of God out to others, Yes.

But then...live, and let others live.  God will bring His harvest in the lives of others...we won't.  Indeed, we can't.  Only the Lord can and will bring harvest in people's hearts if they are willing for Him to bring harvest.  

That bird's nest seemed to appear out of nowhere and in no time at all.  We placed the tree on the porch and viola!  There was a nest in it the next time we looked!  

Jesus says that the kingdom of God is similar to this. We do not need to bring God's harvest in men's (and women's and children's) hearts. God will.

We do need to establish relationships with others. Build trust. Develop authentic friendships and then...we scatter God's seed. (A man scatters seed on the ground. ~Mark 4:26) We share our testimony of how we have seen God work in our heart and life. We read a Bible verse or account that has impacted us. We take them to church/Bible study/small group. We share the truth of God with them in some tangible way...in short, we scatter seed on their ground.

And then that person has a spiritual choice to make.
And then the faith-ball is in their court, and out of ours.
And then what happens to that seed is between God and that person, and as long as the person is open to accepting Christ and His growth within their lives---there is growth.

All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.
(29) As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”  ~Mark 4:26-29

Plant the seed today! Yes--that is our role and our calling as followers-of-Christ. But yielding the harvest and saving souls...that is all up to the Lord.

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. (7) So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.  ~I Corinthians 6-7

We needed this refreshing spiritual reminder (and relief) today, and maybe that's why God gave me a rapidly-woven nest in our red, white, and blue (fake) tree.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.  ~Psalm 33:12

 

Blessings, 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Corona Devo 1065

Image
It’s never too late to turn to the Lord.   And--it’s never too late to turn back to the Lord.   Do we GET IT?   King Hezekiah GOT IT.   The people in his area (Israel) had not been following the Lord, and they had fallen away from the (God-ordained) traditions that the Lord had designed to connect His people with Himself,  like going to church (Temple), and like celebrating the festival of Passover.  So they sent a proclamation throughout all Israel...inviting everyone to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover of the  Lord , the God of Israel. The people had not been celebrating it in great numbers as required in the Law ( 2 Chronicles 30:5). Hezekiah  invited the people back to church!  But how to get the word out? He  wrote letters of invitation to the people (2 Chronicles 30:1), but letters without delivery are dead messages.  Hezekiah needed to get the letters ... to God's people! At the king’s command, runners were...
Read more

Corona Devo 1063

Image
Ever been around boys (of any age)?  They don't concern themselves with talking about   other  boys...they are not (usually) comparative that way, and would prefer to be competitive instead.  They are often contented with jokes and sounds, rather than defaming other guys or discussing their shortfalls. But...ever been around women ( of any age )?  For some sinful reason, our conversations often seem to p ick-a-little, talk-a-little, pick some more and talk, talk, talk about other women.  We  simmer into a boil as we digress and regress into unbecoming chatter about   other  women.   It's a terrible habit and yet girls in elementary school don't need to be taught how and even elderly church biddies can't quite fully withdraw.  We all still fall to condemning others  from time to time.  We have this sinful draw to make ourselves feel good by chirping back and forth and making someone   else   feel bad. It's na...
Read more

Corona Devo 1064

Image
The earth is the   Lord ’s, and everything in it.   The world and all its people belong to him.   (2)  For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas  and built it on the ocean depths.   ~Psalm 24:1-2 We belong to Him, but also…our world belongs to Him: and  everything in it .   Everything.   Every tree and flower, every person, every pelican, everything. How are we responding to that glorious Truth today?   Can we praise Him today?  Can we acknowledge and absorb (and respond!) to the awesome Truth that we belong to Him :  the Creator of all things, and our Creator?   He laid the earth’s foundation ...and (even)  the earth  knows that it belongs to him ... Do we? Are we choosing to respond to Him today?   The trees do.    Looking out my window as I read these words of God, I saw these words  proven by God as n aked tree-branch arms were raised in praise of their Creat...
Read more