Gardeners
Many years ago I bought a camellia. It was quite small – only about twelve inches tall. Every year it produced a few flowers but after five years it was only thirteen inches tall. So I carefully dug it up and replanted in another part of the garden in the hope that it would do better. I gave it plenty of fresh compost and tended it carefully. After another five years it was fourteen inches tall! I never gave up on that plant but two years later my camellia died.
I did all that I could to save my plant but it did not respond to the care I gave it.
However, my desire for my plant to grow is nothing compared with God’s desire for us to become the people we should be. God never gives up on us but we need to respond to the care He shows us. The Bible tells us of God’s desire to save us from the sins that stifle our lives. God loves us and wants the best for us. But like my camellia, we don’t always accept the opportunities we’ve been given. God is faithful in His love for us and we must not give up on Him.
When fully grown, a camellia is a beautiful plant but it has to use the nourishment it is given. Likewise, we need to respond to the nourishment that is God’s love for us. We need to grow into the people God wants us to be so that we can be a benefit to others and sharers of God’s love.
David Bradshaw
April 2006