THE GARDEN

God’s beauty is so evident in the garden; glorious yellow irises, snow white peonies, purple alum standing so regally , a cacophony of columbine colors and carpets of green grass barbered just so.  With such a cold Spring, we’ve just planted small tomato plants whose labels promise fruit within 80 days – an eternity!

  Did those plants try to grow?  Did they try to be what God created them to be? Did they water themselves? Or grow their roots?  Hmmm…

What about us?  We’re God’s creation created for His enjoyment.  But boy it’s hard to be what God wants me to be. I have to make intentional decisions to do what’s right, to live right, to make myself behave properly and act like a Christian.  it takes a lot of effort to water and feed myself so I’ll grow up to be beautiful and strong.  I know the plants don’t have to do anything for themselves but that’s the way they’re created. It’s different for me. I’ll end up a failure, good for nothing if I don’t take care of myself I don’t want to make God angry or disappoint Him after all He did or me! Right?

Wrong! We can accomplish nothing without God’s enabling power. We are only who we are because of Christ in us, the hope of glory. We have His beauty inside us and the more we surrender to Him, the more that aroma of beauty and love is released in our lives.  He is all the while in us both to will and to work for His good pleasure.  And   ”the good work HE’s begun in us, HE will complete”. 
It’s not about what we DO, but what we BEcome by drawing c lose to Him and allowing Him to work in us and through us – by cooperating with Him, seeking His heart in all things.

He’s planted us on this earth to grow and be a demonstration of His love and beauty.  All we have to do is say “yes” and watch how His garden grows.