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For our ancestors were unfaithful and did what is evil in the sight of the Lord our God. They abandoned him, turned their faces away from the Lord’s dwelling place, and turned their backs on him.
2 Chronicles 29:6
A while ago, I decided to re-pot a few of my plants. They had outgrown their current environment and needed larger space. I prepared my supplies; a gorgeous new planter, extra soil, and fertilizer and got to work replanting. I felt accomplished and certain that they’d take root and continue to flourish.
Last month, I realized that I had neglected my usual watering routine. As I hurriedly got my plants watered. I noticed the vine I re-potted had withered. Although it received the same treatment as all the other plants. It was not thriving. I tried so many remedies to help it, but it was beyond repair.
Much like plants, when we neglect our relationship with God, there are consequences. It brings to mind the people of Israel after the death of Joshua. God had allowed them to enter a new land. Instead of following the Lord’s instructions and nurturing their relationship with Him, their tribes merged with the Canaanites and they began to worship other gods. The Israelites abandoned the ways of their faithful ancestors and fell into the paganist rituals of their neighbors. The amazing part is that God does not abandon or neglect His people. The Lord sent leaders (judges) that were filled with faith and wisdom to show the Israelites their evil ways.
We have a choice to nurture or neglect our relationship with God. If we allow distance to grow between us, then some areas of life will flourish and others will wither. Unlike my unfortunate plant, we have the ability to repair our situation. We can decide right now to begin to create a regular routine of spiritual discipline. We can decide to no longer live withered lives.
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The passage illustrates the importance of being a beacon of light in dim, dark places, as guided by Luke 11:33-36. One must not let comfort lead to dulled awareness, but instead consciously illuminate one’s environment. It urges self-reflection on how one’s personal light can lead others towards embracing Jesus.
The Lord’s Prayer 11 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread, 4 and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone
The Beatitudes 20 And He raised His eyes toward His disciples and began saying, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when the people hate you, and when they exclude you, and insult you, and scorn your
I have been lost a time or two. Usually, because I got distracted and wandered off the intended path. Whatever sparked my interest was enough to cause me to lose sight of my intended destination. In this passage, we find Jesus as a child, so focused on His Father’s business that he wanders off from his parents. In my own life, I’ve found that I’m not prone to wander towards my father’s business….but away from it.
If you or someone close to you is in need, we would be honored to lift you up in prayer. We believe in the power of prayer to bring peace, comfort, and reassurance during times of hardship. Our community is ready to join together and pray as we trust in God’s love and unending grace.
