The Garden of God
Soul Snack 23/11 ...The Garden of God
The Bible is rich with agricultural metaphors from planting to pruning to uprooting. God's church is His garden. It has blossoms blooming and sheep grazing. It has weeds growing and wolves prowling.
As in the gardens' of men so too in the garden of God:
- some people are roses - absolutely beautiful up high but littered with thorns underneath;
- some are briars - green but prickly all the time;
- some are poppies - delightful and colorful for a short time
- some are elm trees - they are bright then they are grey, but the bright always returns and
- others are Oak trees - strong, tall and always green.
Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. he owner's servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?' ‘An enemy did this,' he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?' ‘No,' he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' " (Matt 13: 24-30)
Hmm ... please don't reflect on those you know that may match with the above (for that could be judgmental) - but ask the Lord to reveal to you the soul refreshing insights that will lift your heart to heaven in repentance or rejoicing.
Today's Soul Snippet:
"We must move from asking God to stop things that are breaking our heart, to praying about things that are breaking His heart." M. Gibb