WATCHWORD:
Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. John 21:16
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26
Meditation:
Birds, Bugs and Weeds
I probably could’ve included sheep. Jesus liked to share parables, lessons and instructions from nature. Peter was in the process of being forgiven and I believe he knew exactly what Jesus was saying to him. It wasn’t about sheep, but it was about being a shepherd. He was not saying that Peter was to convert to his own way of thinking, but he was saying see that followers of Jesus get nourished in the knowledge of him.
Now about the birds and the bugs. In a recent Our Daily Bread, Pastor Adam Holtz wrote a devotional entitled “And God sent… moths?” Have you ever encountered miller moths? They often travel in vast armadas each year. To us these are unwanted pests that often fly right into your face. But to birds, it’s a feast. They provide incredible nutrition for the birds of that region. As annoying as they are, moths are a veritable manna for birds.
So, what about weeds? Writing occupies a great deal of my time, sitting at my desk, pounding away on my MacBook. I’ve lived here for the better part of 13 years and have been writing most of that time. My windows face southwest, looking out on a little pasture framed by pine trees. So that, in the afternoon. there’s often a sun problem, causing me to pull my blinds. Then two years ago, after unsuccessfully trying to create a garden outside my window, I noticed a weed that I had chopped out the previous year, growing again, stronger than ever. In a fairly short span of time it was as tall as the eaves and when the leaves were in full flower it cast a lovely shade on my writing place. Thank you, Lord, for the unexpected gift of shade, provided by my now favorite weed.
We never know how God works in His marvelous ways, His mysterious ways. We only know that God works and his plan is so much greater than mine or yours. We could eradicate the moths and deny swallows of necessary nutrition. I could chop that weed properly, sprinkle a little weed killer, but I would deny this plant a God-given purpose to grow healthy and do the work of providing shade. We could deny our God-given purpose of shepherding His Word. I don’t think that is what God wants us to do. Do you? Amen.
Dove Chocolate Wisdom:
You’re only one decision away from making your dreams come true.
Honoring God’s Creation:
Dear Lord, We humbly come before You, seeking Your divine guidance and protection over the beauty of nature that surrounds us. May we cherish and nurture Your creation, respecting the balance of life. Help us to be stewards of the earth, honoring Your handiwork in every tree, river, bug, bird and weed, all part of Your creation. In Jesus name. Amen.
