Morning glories on our backyard fence.
Message summary:
Today we want to encourage our readers who live or serve in what may
seem like a dark place. Some of us plant, others water but God gives
the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6). And the God who ultimately gives
blooming ability to the morning glory in our dark garden shed will also bring
growth and blooming wherever you are, even if it’s a dark place, if You look to Him for strength, light, and persistence!
“You, brethren, are not in
darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; for you are
all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness”
(1 Thessalonians 5:4). “So we have the prophetic word made more sure,
to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark
place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts”
(2 Peter 1:19).
Like many of you we continue to pray regarding the flooding in Texas. We link to an article, “Heroes In Houston”, which captures a compilation of photos and videos that show people doing good in hard place.
Those who are not considering their own needs first but instead are
reaching out to those in even more dire circumstances are surely
blooming even in the midst of flood waters. Their fruit is seen by
others, welcomed by most, and will leave a lasting impact on the lives
they touch by their compassionate actions. These people are blooming in
hard places!
The Morning Glories are prolific around our place
even though Brooksyne
hasn’t planted any for many years. Through the years we’ve (mostly
Brooksyne) has pulled them up like weeds since they invade many areas
of our other plantings. We are blessed not
only by flowers that Brooksyne intentionally plants all around our home
but “volunteers”, like the morning glories, (Ipomoea purpurea) spring
up wherever we happen to dispose of the clippings, or wherever the wind
blows the seed. We have them
growing along our fence and on our mail box. Some of our clippings make
their way to the farm road across from our house along the front row of
corn. They demonstrate resourcefulness and persistence.
These
plants have not benefitted from Brooksyne’s feeding, watering or
weeding, yet they grow; blooming where they are planted providentially
by God, usually in the full sun, demonstrating the character quality of
perseverance. We have even had volunteers brightening up the interior of
our garden shed, blooming in a very dark place until we open the door
or turn on the light. Morning Glories have a tendency to thrive and bloom in hard places.
“Bloom Where You’re Planted” is a quote that give the sense that we are to
let God use us and seek to be fruitful wherever we find ourselves. At times we
may be providentially planted where we would rather not be,
sometimes in what sure seems like dark places. A true test of character
is whether we bloom or wither in these difficult places.
Peter does not specifically identify the “dark place” in our second
daily text. It seems most natural however to view this dark place as
the world, the way it presently exists. Peter is likely using “dark place” as
a metaphor to describe this corrupt world system. However “advanced”
our secular civilization becomes, this world in its willful rebellion
to God (whose essence is light), lies in the darkness of sin,
ignorance, despair and death which keeps people from seeing God’s truth
until His light shines into their hearts. (Precept Austin commentary)
Bible teacher Warren
Wiersbe makes this comment
regarding the Greek word “auchmeros”, used here for dark. It “is the
picture of a dank cellar or a dismal swamp. Human history began in a
lovely garden, but that garden today is a murky swamp. What you see
when you look at this world system is an indication of the spiritual
condition of your heart. We still see beauty in God’s creation, but we
see no beauty in what mankind is doing with God’s creation. Peter did
not see this world as a Garden of Eden, nor should we.”
Today we want to encourage our readers who live or serve in what may
seem like a dark place. Some of us plant, others water but God gives
the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6). And the God who ultimately gives
blooming ability to the morning glory in our dark garden shed will also bring
growth and blooming wherever you are, even if it’s a dark place, if You look to Him for strength, light, and persistence!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
