Image courtesy of Rosemary Ratcliff / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
We
all know people who have a green thumb and can make anything grow. I’m not one
of those people. I kill plants! Well actually I forget to water them. Even when
they are right in front of me.
After
being on staff at LifeBridge Christian Church for several years, I took the
position of Hospitality Director. The lady I replaced was very kind and she
presented me with a beautiful red flowering plant in a white pot. The colors
were perfect, but it was a live plant. That needed to be watered.
I
was so determined to make this one live. The gift giver had put so much thought
into the gift. So I watered it. And remembered to water it. It received plenty
of sunshine in our bright office, but it didn’t thrive.
My
daughter looked at it one day and said, “Mom! There’s mold on it. You’ve over
watered it!” Hmm. Overwatered? “It’s a succulent,” she continued, “it doesn’t
need as much water, so you need to check the soil…” and by this point she had
lost me.
The
book of Isaiah was written during a stormy period in Israel’s history. Israel
was under Assyian rule and Isaiah wrote messages from God to this this nation.
In
Isaiah 1:30b (NIV), Israel is described as “…a
garden without water.” They were a rebellious nation and had suffered. They
were being punished for their rebellion.
But
Isaiah continued to give Israel hope throughout the book and in Isaiah 58:11b
(NIV) he assures them, “…you will be like
a well-watered garden...”
Yes,
if Israel was willing to put their rebellion behind them, if they were willing
to stop the blaming and gossiping, if they were willing to give to those in
need, if they did as God asked them, God would rescue them.
If
Israel allowed God to lead them, they could once again be great. A great light
would shine from Israel. Their broken lives could be repaired. Their ruined
spirits could be restored. Through the Repairer and Restorer. God.
We
have the choice to be one of these two gardens. If we are rebellious against
God, then we can expect to be a garden without water. If we are obedient to
God, then we can expect to be a well-watered garden.
Isaiah
also spoke of the coming Messiah throughout this Messianic prophetic book. We
know this Messiah to be Jesus. Jesus, the Living Water. “Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the
water I give him will become in him like a spring of water welling up to
eternal life.” (John 4:14 – NIV)
Through
Jesus we have the opportunity to be a well-watered garden, with abundant life.
Plants
and gardens are green when water is present. We too can be green (spiritually
healthy) when Jesus is present in our lives and when we seek out the watering
holes.
The
watering holes of prayer, Bible study, Bible reading, fellowship with other
Christians, worship, and serving others. By continually visiting these watering
holes, we will always be green and will have the Lord to guide us in all we say
and do.
In
retrospect, my plants have died because I didn’t think they needed anything
from me in order to survive. Israel ended up under Assyrian rule because they
didn’t think they needed anything from God. How wrong we both were.
Under
my daughter’s care, the plant did pretty well through those summer months…then
she went back to college. Eventually, the plant died and the only thing
remaining was the white pot.
I’m
so thankful that I am much better at tending to my spiritual life. I’m thankful
that my relationship with Jesus showers Living Water upon me. I’m thankful that
the “spiritual gardener” within me has a green thumb.
How
are you doing with this? Are you green (spiritually)? Does the grass (your
spiritual life) crunch under the footsteps of your day-to-day life? Are you
parched? Are you feeling the drought of separation from God and His people?
There
is an easy fix. A relationship with Jesus Christ in which you can have Living
Water. And through the Living Water you will be bubbling with abundant life.
Now, who wouldn’t want that?
Grace
and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
Donna is a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother living in Colorado where she finds inspiration for her novels and devotional writings. You can find her at her blog Full Measure of Joy.
