With all the noise in the world, do you hear the voice of God? Your calendar tells you what to do, but do you remember who you are? Being comes before doing. This is a call to put first things first. Return to the Lord with this daily pattern of prayer and devotion. Set aside this time as a sanctuary. Find a space free of distraction and follow this pattern.
Reopening the Bible Week 1: WEDNESDAY
Invocation
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation
O Lord, your scars are your trophies, proof of your unfailing love for me. I am haunted by the guilt of my past, the sins of my present, and my fear of the future. Lord, at the cross you said, “It is finished.” So I stop my worry. I rest in you. You have done it all. Amen.
Confession
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Lord, forgive my fugitive ways. I turn and run from you. Forgive my criminal acts of hypocrisy and self-righteousness. Forgive my violations of arrogance and selfishness. Forgive me for denying you, ignoring you, and disregarding you. I am the one at fault. I have no other help but to turn my face to you and plead, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Word: Genesis 1:11
“And God said, ‘Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on earth.’”
Meditation: Called to Bear FruitToday’s meditation is written by Allison Lewis.
If you were to visit my home, you’d see a lot of houseplants. About 30, to be exact.
In the living room, a happy white-and-green striped spider plant lives on the top of my bookshelf, while a couple aloe plants and a green rubber plant live below. There’s a Christmas amaryllis that started as a bulb from Aldi. A set of dark green elephant ears sit on a small stool, and a tall ZZ plant from South Africa with waxy, shiny green leaves pokes out of a turquoise pot.
In the kitchen, there’s four more plants on the windowsill, including a variegated pothos with long, trailing fingers, and a pot that (proudly) reads: “Crazy Plant Lady.”
My office and bedroom host a few more plant friends: you’ll find a parlor palm, a snake plant, a croton, a flamingo plant and a couple succulents, too.
“Why all the plants?” you ask.
“They bring me joy,” I’d say truthfully.
But more than that, they remind me of God’s mighty work of creation. In Genesis 1, we read “And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit …” (Genesis 1:11).
God created thousands of plants, and he calls every one of them good! He lovingly crafted every houseplant, fruit tree, vegetable, and crop that you can think of. Our Creator spent time designing and cultivating each one, giving them unique details, shapes, colors, and sizes. Every plant is special in its own way, and each has its own job.
You and I have a job: to bear good fruit.
Galatians 5:22-23 speaks about this fruit. It comes through the Holy Spirit: fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
As Christians, we are called to produce good fruit in our daily lives. This may be listening patiently to a child as they share about their school day or praying with a friend who is going through a tough time. It could be purposely opening God’s Word each day.
Houseplants remind me of God’s calling to produce good fruit. They remind me of his love for his creation and his people. How can you serve others and bear fruit this week?
Prayer: Lord, thank you so much for your gift of creation. Please help me to bear good fruit, with the help of your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Benediction
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Heb. 13:20-21)