|
You are God's garden. That's the way the Living Bible quotes the Apostle Paul in the third chapter of First Corinthians.
Paul is talking to folks who have been arguing whether another minister they've been following, Apollos, is greater than
Paul, and he is trying to stop their jealousy.
Paul reminds that his work is to plant seed (that is, Christ) in their hearts, and Apollos work is to water it. But
he adds that when all is said and done, it was God who made the garden grow in their hearts. He stresses that the person
who does the planting or watering isn't very important, but God is important because he is the one who makes things grow.
And at this point, he says You are God's garden, not ours (his and Apollo's)...and you are God's building, not ours.
Although the King James Bible is my favorite if I could only have one version, at times the Living Bible is even more pleasant
and musical, for it says, "You are God's husbandry; you are God's building."
But calling us "gardens" reminded me of a lady in my home town while in high school...Mrs. Gibson, the richest
lady in town(probably the ONLY one), who had an extensive garden in her back yard with a wandering pool all through it, with
live goldfish. We'd slip in there just to look, with never a thought of damaging anything, and Mrs. Gibson must have known,
but never let herself be seen. I remember singing the song "Trees" with a couple of girls during some sort of recital
back there one time. (Well, I told you I sung at everything that came along!).
That was a beautiful place, but back in Chapter two, Paul quotes: "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor
ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." What
a place we Christians must be headed for! If we really knew, I suppose death of a Christian really WOULD be a time of celebration.
Dear heart, if you haven't turned to the right yet, do it now. Because the alternative ALSO can't be imagined for
the awfulness it promises. Talk to Him about it.
37BT Bill Thornton August 23, 2003
|
