Page 268 - Our High Calling (1961)

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Fragrance in our Lifework, September 5
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the
field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I
say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed
like one of these.
Matthew 6:28, 29
.
The great Master Artist calls our attention to the soulless flowers of the
field, pointing out the beautiful tints and the wonderful variety of shades
one flower may possess. Thus God has revealed His skill and care. Thus
He would show the great love He has for every human being.
The Lord our Creator expends as much care, wisdom, and time upon
the tiny flower as upon the great things He creates. In the tiniest flowers
are seen a beauty and perfection that no human art can copy. The delicate
tracery of the tinted rose, as well as the stars in the heavens, shows the
penciling of the great Master Artist.
Choice flowers ... reveal the advantages of culture. They teach us that
it is our privilege to improve. God desires us to bring fragrance into our
lifework. We are to be the plants of the Lord, serving Him in whatever
way He wills. Let us do all in our power to beautify our characters....
Tender care must be given to the delicate plants. The useless offshoots
must be taken away. The bruised parts must be carefully bound up. So
those who are weak in the faith must have fostering care. We are to bind
to our stronger purposes the weaklings in the Lord’s garden, giving them
support.
From the endless variety of plants and flowers, we may learn an
important lesson. All blossoms are not the same in form or color. Some
possess healing virtues. Some are always fragrant. There are professing
Christians who think it their duty to make every other Christian like
themselves. This is man’s plan, not the plan of God. In the church of God
there is room for characters as varied as are the flowers in a garden. In
His spiritual garden there are many varieties of flowers.
The Lord cares for the flowers. He gives them beauty and fragrance.
Will He not much more give us the fragrance of a cheerful disposition?
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