Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, they simply are! Think of the sea, the air, the sun, the stars, and the moon, all of these simply are as well, yet what a ministry and service they render on our behalf!
So often we impair God's designed influence, which He desires to exhibit through us, because of our own conscious efforts to be consistent and useful. Jesus said there is only one way to develop and grow spiritually, and that is through focusing and concentrating on God. (John 15:5) In essence, Jesus was saying, "Do not worry about being of use to others; simply believe on Me."
In other words, pay attention to the Source, and out of you "will flow rivers of living water" ( John 7:38 ). We cannot discover the source of our natural life through common sense and reasoning, and Jesus is teaching here that growth in our spiritual life comes not from focusing directly on it, but from concentrating on our Father in heaven. Our heavenly Father knows our circumstances, and if we will stay focused on Him, instead of our circumstances, we will grow spiritually... just as "the lilies of the field."
The people who influence us the most are not those who detain us with their continual talk, but those who live their lives like the stars in the sky and "the lilies of the field"... simply and unaffectedly.
-Oswald Chambers
I really liked this piece. I thought it went well with this picture that I took of the Little Spokane River. I am going to learn to fly fish right at this spot and also let go of worrying about being of use to others...
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