According to our calendar, Spring is here, though it does not yet feel like it most days. Yet there is a feel of Springtime in the air. Daffodils are in bloom and fruit trees are blossoming. As we celebrated the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus from the dead, we can now look ahead to putting off our own grave clothes of winter and much of our grief of the past and put on our new robes of Spring.
In reading John 11 about the raising of Lazarus from the dead, Jesus told Martha, "I AM the resurrection and life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" When Jesus arrived at the grave site, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" I find it interesting that when Lazarus came out of the grave, John 11:44 says, "And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, 'Loose him and let him go.'"
When Lazarus came out of the grave, he was still bound. Jesus did not loose him, but told those there to "Loose him and let him go." I believe that speaks to us today that we are to open our hearts to those still bound in grave clothes of grief and losses in our past to help each other take off the grave clothes. I do not suggest we can forget our loved ones and never again grieve their loss. We are still in our human bodies and will miss our loved ones until we can once again be reunited with them in our new bodies.
However, I believe the Lord is calling for each of us to help our sisters put on our new garments of praise for the spirits of heaviness, and be the planting of the Lord in His garden - that He might be glorified. Years ago I entered a second floor condominium that was to be a special home for me. It had the view of a gorgeous 200 year-old oak tree. The Holy Spirit quickened verses from Isaiah 61 - "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor, He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, the opening of the prisons to those who are bound...To comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness that they may be called trees (or oaks) of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified." That beautiful oak tree was a source of comfort and teaching as the Lord often revealed Himself and His word to me through it.
One cold depressing day in winter, I looked out, and the tree was bare. Usually a few leaves remained on the branches until the spring sap pushed off the old ones, but this year strong winds and rain tore at them, and the tree seemed more barren than usual. While looking at the tree I started to think of the size of the roots under it. I recalled reading an oak tree's roots were often twice as long as the upward and outward growth. I envisioned the roots of the oak tree growing deep into the soil, seeking water during dry seasons. This day I felt like that naked oak tree. However, as I looked out, I felt the Spirit of the Lord speak to me about those roots. He reminded me that the fruit in my life was also growing like those roots. He saw what I could not. I felt His love comfort and enfold me and I no longer felt barren and alone.
I pray as we look at the beauty of nature growing around us that we will see our Lord Jesus' love growing through us, allowing the fruit of His Holy Spirit in our lives to grow more deeply as we bloom in God's garden and bring joy and beauty to others. New neighbors recently purchased a home that had been vacant several years. In the last few weeks it has taken on a new beauty as the couple worked in the yard, trimmed, weeded and mulched, until the place looks brand new. That is how the Lord sees us, even if we do not yet see ourselves like that. Remember, He sees us redeemed and forgiven - through the Precious Blood of Jesus. Let's pray for the Lord to anoint our eyes with His eye salve to see ourselves and others through Jesus, and bring more and more glory to His beautiful garden through His grace flowing in our lives. Let's lay aside our grave clothes and see God's glorious new fruit in ourselves and each other.
My love and prayers for His fruitfulness to be with all of us as we grow in Christ's Beautiful Garden. Dee
