stock image
The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.
Isaiah 40: 8
After seven months, I thought grass would come back onto my late husband’s grave by this time. Still no grass. I bought some grass seed and the day before we expected rain, I sprinkled the seed about over the barren spot. Now I wait and hope to find little tender blades popping out of the soil as God sends the rain and sun to do their business. This reminded me of the references in Scripture regarding grass. We are like grass, only to wither and die, meanwhile …
Meanwhile, as we live, how do we flourish like the grass in our day to day existence. When someone is taken from our hearts, do we shrivel up and develop an empty plot of dirt, or do we strew new seed and move on?
Late Polish/British author, Joseph Conrad, said:
“Each blade of grass has its spot on earth whence it draws its life, its strength; and so is man rooted to the land from which he draws his faith together with his life.”[i]
No matter concerning our circumstances in our day to day existence, we have to acknowledge our time and purpose on this earth are both purpose-filled and limited. Ah. What shall we do with our time and purpose? How can we be faithful and true with our blade of grass?
- Time: I don’t know about you, but oh, how time is so easily wasted! In order to counteract time wasting, time management is essential. You may have your ways and means, but for me, I begin with journaling my thoughts (you get some of them in these weekly journals). Then I see what God has to say about my thoughts in His Word, pray, and then plan out my day, making a list. I plan with this scripture in mind:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3: 5-6
- Purpose:
- God’s purpose for all of His children according to the Westminster Shorter Catechism):
- 1. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.
- What about His secondary purposes—the means to carry out glorifying Him and enjoying Him forever? God has given each of us potential. What we do with our potential is on our shoulders. Ask: How can I reflect Jesus in my day to day life?
- By living a spiritually fruitful life: Galatians 5: 22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
- By developing what makes you smile into a ministry only you can do to the glory of God.
But, you may ask, how can I find my potential if I’m not certain I am one of God’s children?
- Recognize that all humanity are sinful: There is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God… Romans 3: 22b-23
- Realize what God has done for you: For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6: 23
- Repent of your sinfulness: God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance… Romans 2: 4
- Receive Jesus as the only Savior: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10: 9-10
[i] Joseph Conrad – Each blade of grass has its spot on earth…
