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The Easter Lily - April 04, 2007
We all know about the Easter Lily. It is the plant that is most often used at this time of year to depict the joy we have in Christ's resurrection. But there are a few facts about the flower that I think can relate to our lives IN Christ.
But first we will have to answer the following question: What goes into the production of an Easter Lily?
First: You need the right climate: the right temperature, the right soil, and lots of rainfall. Hmm, kind of sounds like my life. The bulb must be planted in the right soil - like we must be rooted and grounded in Christ (Eph. 3:17-18)
Second: You need plenty of patience as bulbs must be cultivated in fields for three to four years (Yep, years!) before they can be shipped to commercial greenhouse growers. And that is just the bulbs! (James 1:2)
Third: They are sent to the growers who force the plants to grow under controlled conditions so they will bloom at the right time. Is this starting to make sense now? (I Corinthians 3:6-7)
Fourth: While the bulb is growing, they require constant care and attention to assure superior quality and cleanliness (yep they put that in there, amongst all the mud and soil these bulbs they plant must stay clean in order to bloom) In this process each bulb is handled up to 40 times before it is actually ready to be shipped. (Romans 8:39)
Fifth: A commercial-sized bulb usually starts as a small, baby bulblet attached to the underground stem of the mother plant. When the mother plant is harvested, the bulblet is removed and planted in another field. A year later it is dug up again, replanted, and nurtured until it reaches maturity, kind of like how we are reborn in Christ and then planted in His creation. (Psalm 139:13)
Sixth: The growers then harvest the bulbs, which are cleaned, graded, sorted, packed and cooled before shipping. When they arrive at the greenhouses, the growers determine when to plant in order for the lilies to bloom at just the right time. We're still not done with the cleaning? First there is tons of rainfall, then enduring patience, then more life stresses and now we're cleaned again? I guess Christ really wants us to trust Him for everything. (Proverbs 27:17)
This Easter, I would encourage all of you to think about how the Easter lily might relate to your own story of life. Are you in the beginning stages where you still need the right temperature and soil and rainfall to continue to grow? Or have you progressed to becoming the lily your heart desires and are being cleaned and graded? Wherever you are this Easter season, Christ invites you to come, let Him take you on the journey of your life. Respond to His invitation. When you do you will become well-grown lily!
Signs of a well-grown lily: it has flowers in various stages of bloom from buds to open or partially opened flowers. Foliage is dense, rich green in color, and extended all the way down to the soil line (a good indication of a healthy root system). (Colossians 2:6-7)
But wait, we're not done yet. Just what do you do with an Easter lily after it has finished flowering in its pot? Don't throw it away, plant it outdoors in a bright sunny spot that has good soil - it will last forever! But it won't last forever in the pot - it has to be planted in the EARTH's SOIL! (I Corinthians 3:8-9)
As we approach Good Friday and Easter Sunday this week, I encourage you to read the Easter story from any of the 4 Gospels: Matthew 26-28; Mark 14:12-16:20; Luke 22:7-24:53; John 17-21. Maybe it is for the first time, maybe it is one of many times you have read it, whichever it is read it over. Then, you can be reminded of all Christ did for YOU. If he can design the lily so intricately, imagine what he can do with your life if you will just let Him.
You are loved!
Amy Anderson [email protected]
We all know about the Easter Lily. It is the plant that is most often used at this time of year to depict the joy we have in Christ's resurrection. But there are a few facts about the flower that I think can relate to our lives IN Christ.
But first we will have to answer the following question: What goes into the production of an Easter Lily?
First: You need the right climate: the right temperature, the right soil, and lots of rainfall. Hmm, kind of sounds like my life. The bulb must be planted in the right soil - like we must be rooted and grounded in Christ (Eph. 3:17-18)
Second: You need plenty of patience as bulbs must be cultivated in fields for three to four years (Yep, years!) before they can be shipped to commercial greenhouse growers. And that is just the bulbs! (James 1:2)
Third: They are sent to the growers who force the plants to grow under controlled conditions so they will bloom at the right time. Is this starting to make sense now? (I Corinthians 3:6-7)
Fourth: While the bulb is growing, they require constant care and attention to assure superior quality and cleanliness (yep they put that in there, amongst all the mud and soil these bulbs they plant must stay clean in order to bloom) In this process each bulb is handled up to 40 times before it is actually ready to be shipped. (Romans 8:39)
Fifth: A commercial-sized bulb usually starts as a small, baby bulblet attached to the underground stem of the mother plant. When the mother plant is harvested, the bulblet is removed and planted in another field. A year later it is dug up again, replanted, and nurtured until it reaches maturity, kind of like how we are reborn in Christ and then planted in His creation. (Psalm 139:13)
Sixth: The growers then harvest the bulbs, which are cleaned, graded, sorted, packed and cooled before shipping. When they arrive at the greenhouses, the growers determine when to plant in order for the lilies to bloom at just the right time. We're still not done with the cleaning? First there is tons of rainfall, then enduring patience, then more life stresses and now we're cleaned again? I guess Christ really wants us to trust Him for everything. (Proverbs 27:17)
This Easter, I would encourage all of you to think about how the Easter lily might relate to your own story of life. Are you in the beginning stages where you still need the right temperature and soil and rainfall to continue to grow? Or have you progressed to becoming the lily your heart desires and are being cleaned and graded? Wherever you are this Easter season, Christ invites you to come, let Him take you on the journey of your life. Respond to His invitation. When you do you will become well-grown lily!
Signs of a well-grown lily: it has flowers in various stages of bloom from buds to open or partially opened flowers. Foliage is dense, rich green in color, and extended all the way down to the soil line (a good indication of a healthy root system). (Colossians 2:6-7)
But wait, we're not done yet. Just what do you do with an Easter lily after it has finished flowering in its pot? Don't throw it away, plant it outdoors in a bright sunny spot that has good soil - it will last forever! But it won't last forever in the pot - it has to be planted in the EARTH's SOIL! (I Corinthians 3:8-9)
As we approach Good Friday and Easter Sunday this week, I encourage you to read the Easter story from any of the 4 Gospels: Matthew 26-28; Mark 14:12-16:20; Luke 22:7-24:53; John 17-21. Maybe it is for the first time, maybe it is one of many times you have read it, whichever it is read it over. Then, you can be reminded of all Christ did for YOU. If he can design the lily so intricately, imagine what he can do with your life if you will just let Him.
You are loved!
Amy Anderson [email protected]
