Alas, a Lily (Part 1)

Scripture:  Psalm 90:12 - Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Luke: 12:27 - Give thought to the flowers: they do not work, they make no thread; and still I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory, was not clothed like one of these.  

Psalm 90:12 is offering the understanding that as goals are concerned, gaining wisdom, or becoming wise are primary to being what we are meant to be. The psalmist, by offering this plea, is showing a receptivity for the spiritual. God gives the receptivity, or the yearning, by which the plea has come. Being then 'teachable', the request is 'Teach us'. Without wanting it, or seeing the need for it, the request does not happen [at least not sincerely, or more than superficially].

'He who has begun a good work in us, will be faithful to complete it...'

Next, a way must be made, to have room for the spiritual by removing the obstacles. Here we are offered the language of accounting, or stewardship. We are invited to 'number' our moments, for as time permits us the doing of things, blessing demands the high use of the gift of being here by which others are blessed, and God is pleased. We must clear out the weeds of our past history and our present habits, as a good gardener, to make ready for that which is to become lush with flowering.

Repentance is to turn away from 'self', and to turn toward Him... to be faithful, upon His faithfulness.

God gives and prompts us toward a state of actionable rest... actionable trust...actionable hope. This is at the heart of justification... rest, trust, hope, belief... actionable belief in Jesus.

A bedtime prayer I learned early, seemed to become stranger the older I became as a child. Many of us learned this: 'Now I lay me down to sleep, I  pray the Lord my soul to keep.' [good so far] 'If I should die before I wake' [whoa!] 'I pray the Lord my soul to take.' After that, unless I was super tired, I resisted sleeping.

Looking back, I recognize for then as now, at my most vulnerable, awake or asleep, it is only God who is able to keep me, from the first to the last of heartbeats.

Praise Him!

So, when Jesus says 'Consider the lilies...', He is prompting us to have such a rest as we live and go, as we depend on Him. It is the meditative and contemplative reality of 'rest' by which we are defined, and nurtured, and set free. We flower in the light of whom He is. We flower in the light of knowing, by the 'renewing' of our mind.

And not even death can take that away.  Shalom.

Prayer:  For that blessed assurance Lord, I thank You. Thank You for the gift of salvation. Thank You for forgiving me. My pledge is to bless You today as You might lead me. My hope is to do well by You. In humility, 'Amen'.

(by Dr. McNeal Brockington)