Tag Archive | jesus

“I am the Rose of Sharon, the Lily of the Valleys” (Song of Solomon 2:1)

Jun29

Last summer I participated in a Photo-a-Day project, and someone told me that this picture of Althea Syriacus was her favorite.

A member of the Mallow family, the Rose of Sharon is a shrub that blooms much of the summer, and seeds itself profusely. Mine was given to me by a fellow gardener. I must have given away a dozen seedlings myself.

In fact, it reproduces itself so well that it is listed as one of Tennessee’s Most Invasive Plants. I was a little dismayed to find out that the pretty Althea was so maligned! It doesn’t seem to be a pest plant to me.

“I am the Rose of Sharon, the Lily of the Valleys” (Song of Solomon 2:1).

While the experts disagree on whether the term Rose of Sharon should be used to refer to Jesus, many of us have long loved the song, “Jesus, Rose of Sharon.” The song runs through my head when I see this pretty shrub, and the realization of how beautiful Jesus is to me runs through my heart at the same time.

Having this in my garden gives me peace that Jesus is with me and fills my life with beauty and love. I can only hope that Jesus’ beauty, truth, and love adorns my heart as this small tree adorns the corner of my garage, and that I can give joy when others pass by as I have received joy and gladness from this plant by my garden pathway.

The plant’s tendency for proliferation makes us mindful of how easy it is to share Jesus with others.

“The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field. And this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches” (Matthew 13:31-32).

Sometimes, I think we make spreading the gospel way too hard.

Recently, I followed the example of someone who talked to a telemarketer about Jesus, and found out how easy and natural it was to do. (I didn’t get the same reaction as the gentleman who was my example, but I did get rid of an annoying call in record time!)

Of course, this is not the preferred method of spreading the gospel; it’s more of an extreme example that demonstrates the multiple opportunities to share the Word.

How many times do we keep silent about our Rose of Sharon just because it seems like it’s not the right time, and let years go by before we really talk with our friends and family? The seeds are plentiful, but we are not allowing them to be scattered. We see the opportunities as we see the tiny trees sprouting in the mulch, but we rake them down because they seem out of place at the time.

This plant, the Rose of Sharon, is prolific. It wants to spread!

Give your baby trees away to other gardeners. Share Jesus whenever the opportunity arises! Do not weed out those stray thoughts of sharing our faith throughout our day. Be generous with the seeds of the gospel — scatter widely!

God bless the growth.

Jesus, Rose of Sharon, bloom within my heart! Beauties of thy truth and holiness impart, That where e’er I go, my life may spread abroad Fragrance of the knowledge of the love of God. Jesus, Rose of Sharon, bloom in radiance and in love within my heart!

— by Christine Berglund

Pray to the Father in Jesus’ name

Feb27

John 5:1-23 has to do with Jesus healing the impotent man at the pool of Bethesda.  After his healing, the Jews were furious and attacked the man for carrying his bed on the Sabbath. The man rightly said that the one who healed him had told him to do it.  They then tried to force the man to tell them how and by whom he was healed.  At first the impotent man did not know, but later, when he was in the temple, he saw Jesus again and “rewarded” Jesus’ kindness by telling the Jews who it was that healed him. The Jews then began to persecute Jesus for healing on the Sabbath.

But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God” (John 5:17-18, KJV).

And the Father did honor Jesus before men by making him Judge of all men. “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son” (John 5:22, KJV).

Notice the specific reason that the Father made Jesus Judge of all men in vs. 23: “That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him” (John 5:23, KJV). All this was while Jesus was on earth.

Unfortunately, some religious groups refuse to honor Jesus in the same way they honor God the Father. While on earth, Jesus was honored on several occasions; His followers worshiped Him. On one occasion they even worshiped Him after His ascension into heaven (Luke 24:52). Unlike good men and angels in the scriptures who rejected worship, Jesus consistently received worship from those whom he had created while he was present with them.  There is no indication in scripture that men worshipped Jesus when he was not physically present or had not recently been present with them.

But there is one more thing to consider. Notice what Jesus taught his apostles and disciples to do after the resurrection. He carefully explained that soon they would have sorrow, soon they would not see him for a time, but in THAT day (the immediate context refers to what will happen after his resurrection) their hearts would rejoice and no man could take that joy from them. However, there will be a change in relationship.

And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you (John 16:22-23, KJV).

We ought always to honor Jesus as he deserves, but his teaching in John 16:22-23 is the main reason we pray to the Father in Jesus’ name and why we do not worship or pray to Jesus now.

–Beth Johnson

You Came (Amazing!)

Jul18

Before I knew to call your name
You came.
You saw the tears
You knew my pain
You came!

You came, you came, you came!

You saw my form
And pitied me
You picked me up
And rescued me
You came!

You came, you came, you came!

You dried my eyes
That I could see
You made me know
You were there for me
You came!

You came, you came, you came!

You held my hand
So we could start
You cleansed my sins
And gave me a new heart
You came!

You came, you came, you came!

You gave me hope
To trust again
A song to sing
A plan to achieve
You came!

You came, you came, you came!

You filled my mind with words of love
You gave me purpose from up above
You came!

You came, you came, you came!

–By pat berry