Cultivating the Soul

Where’s Your Home?

 I was tired.  It had been a long day at work and I had not slept well the night before.  We stopped on the way home from our daily commute to get gas.  While my mother was outside pumping the gas, I was resting and had my eyes about half closed.  That is when I noticed them—bright fuchsia, rambling roses.  Although their beauty caught my eye, I shifted my focus immediately and was concerned with their “home”.  It was a dilapidated old house, which didn’t even appear to be occupied. The grass was high and about half weeds.  I thought “those roses don’t know their beauty is too great for that backdrop.  They just keep blooming daily and doing what is within their purview to make the property appealing.” Sometimes as Christians we want to surround ourselves only with Christian friends, attend only church functions and cocoon ourselves in an atmosphere we deem worthy of our “holiness and beauty”.  This is not the way Jesus spent his time on earth.  He was often with crowds that most didn’t consider appropriate.  I’m reminded of Paul and how he left the Jewish Scholars to be among the Gentiles and share the gospel.  I have purposed in my heart that regardless of others around me I will bloom with my talents and gifts on the backdrop which the Lord has designed for me.

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Father, thank you for sending your son and for willingly placing him in an environment that was not worthy.  Thank you for bringing your sovereignty in the flesh through a couple of meager means and in a barn.  Though he was royalty, he did not consider himself too good for a stable.  And though he was a king he placed himself on the shame of a cross for our sins, I pray that you place in me a desire to be different and stand out in a crowd for

your glory. Amen.