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I planted wildflower seeds in planters in the Spring. I just grabbed packets from Lowe's without knowing or caring particularly what they were. And they eventually bloomed with the exception of one planter that was obviously a climbing plant....but there was nothing on the vines except green leaves....and then about a month ago the leaves on the lower half died and fell off leaving an odd looking trellis with a patch of yellowish/green at the top.
I couple of times I thought about just cutting the vines....but in my mind this was still a living plant....so I was going to let it run its course. Well I walked out on the patio this afternoon....a sunny day after a good bit of rain....and lo and behold there are blue and pink flowers sprouting! These late bloomers were the prettiest of all.
I am not reaching for things to post about. Many of us are just like that plant that seemed essentially dead as to blooming....but then all of sudden God brings a beautiful flower out of it.
We all have gifts.....different gifts....to bring to the church. I have known a number of brothers and sisters in Christ with gifts of mercy and caregiving....and it is always so very humbling to even observe.
There are multitudes of preachers....but not multitudes of preachers with great gifts for preaching. There are multitudes of men and women with gifts of teaching....but not great gifts of knowledge and discernment on what to preach. If they only knew!
I personally know missionaries who I find it difficult to even talk to....for I am such a worm as to sacrificing for the same gospel that we both cling to and love. I know organizers and deacons whose gifts can appear dull and mundane....but I would be a grand and colossal failure if put in their very important positions.
Whatever it is that I do in these posts....it entails an enormous amount of reading and studying....and I have known humble believers over the decades who seem to be a little apprehensive when talking to me....why....because I read and study and flap my lips so much....but they have no way of knowing that I am a little unsettled by them because of their simple and profound faith.
I need them....all of them....to preach the glories of Christ to me. I need to read their books. I need to see their sacrifice to shame me into pressing on. I need to see their persistence at humble tasks to warn me of the dangers of not so humble tasks....and they need warned when necessary!
I believe that I was given my own gifts....a stumbling somehow into discernment on some things....and consequently a desire to warn....and to direct Christians to men who were given great gifts of preaching.....(Spurgeon and Martyn Lloyd-Jones)....and teaching....(R. C. Sproul and Piper!)
When all is said and done....and our glorious King has returned to take us to be with Him forever....we will see the part we were called to play....and that nothing of it came from ourselves....and the absolutely perfect design that God employed....was also filled with patience and mercies!
