A Word With You
By Ron Hutchcraft
#5029 - Spring is Never Sudden
Mark 4:26-29
First, the forsythia exploded - those little yellow flowers that announce
to our area that spring is finally springing. Then the dogwood explosion is
detonated. It's just hard to be in a bad mood when those beautiful pink and
white blossoms suddenly appear everywhere. Actually, the word "suddenly"
needs a little work. The coming of the forsythia and the dogwood, and all
the other stars of the Spring Extravaganza; they've been getting ready to
happen for a long time. We couldn't see it, but there's been this invisible
process of nourishing and growth, and then those nubby little buds start to
peek out. And then, one day you start down the street and it's blazing with
color that wasn't even there the day before. But sudden? Not really.
You may be waiting for spring in some part of your life right now. But
things appear to still be pretty brown and lifeless.
Well, our word for today from the Word of God comes from Mark 4:26-29. It's
an important description of the processes of God; processes that are
probably at work right now in those very areas of your life that seem like
they will never see spring. Here's what God says, "This is what the kingdom
of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether
he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know
how. All by itself the soil produces grain; first the stalk, then the head,
then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the
sickle to it, because the harvest has come."
Here's how God operates: First, there's the seed of what He wants to do,
placed in the ground by faith. And then, as far as we can see, nothing is
happening. But there is, in fact, invisible growth going on the whole time.
It would be a very damaging mistake to keep digging up that seed. You know,
"I got to see if anything is happening here." You're going to ruin it that
way. The invisible growing time is then followed by some first signs of
life. And ultimately, the long-awaited crop appears - but not really
suddenly. Just like those beautiful flowers of spring.
Often when God is answering our prayer or preparing a great work, it looks
for a long time as if nothing is happening. You may need to remember that
right now. Think about what you've worked so hard for, prayed so hard for,
and there's little or no visible result. A family member or friend you've
tried to reach, or who's spiritually wandering. Maybe it's a medical or
financial or spiritual breakthrough you need, or just a long-standing need
of some other kind in your life. Some days it looks as if the prayer, the
cry, the dream of your heart will never happen. And you feel like asking,
as Mary and Martha must have asked when Jesus did not arrive in time to
heal their dying brother Lazarus, "Where are You, Lord?" He would answer
quietly, invisibly, "I'm preparing the answer." By the way, Mary and Martha
got more than they could have ever dreamed; not a healing - they got a
resurrection!
So, don't give up now, don't panic, don't push too hard or keep digging up
the seed. Slowly but surely, the processes of God will blossom and you will
reap what you have sown. Just remain faithful in the part that He's asked
you to play. Just because you can't see God working doesn't mean He isn't
working. Just think of all those spectacular spring blossoms. They were a
long time in coming, but they came. And your spring will, too.
© 2006 Ron Hutchcraft.
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"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been
forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it."
Matthew 11:12
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