Luke 12:27 KJV
Last week a splash of color erupted in my front yard.
Years ago I planted about two dozen crocus bulbs in a little patch of ground near the walkway to the front door. Over the years, they have multiplied, and where there was once a single flower in each spot, now there are four or five as you can see in the picture above.
All winter long this spot was barren and brown, sometimes covered with snow, sometimes just plain dismal. But with a few days of spring warmth, the color burst on the scene almost overnight.
I got down on my knees to look at these marvels of form and color. So much beauty in such a tiny little flower! I couldn’t help thinking of what Jesus said about the lilies of the field. They don’t work hard all day to be so pretty. They don’t spin fibers into cloth to wear such pretty colors. They are simply what God made them to be.
And Jesus added that all of Solomon’s glory did not equal one lily of the field.
You think we would learn. Most of us are so impressed by the Solomon type of glory: riches, fame, power, prestige. But Jesus rebukes that kind of earthly glory. How long will it take us to follow Jesus instead of the world?
Finding God’s glory
When was the last time you searched for God’s glory in the tiny things of life?
Years ago, a friend invited me to join him on an assignment from one of his college classes to go out into a field and stare at a square inch patch of ground for thirty minutes. It was quite a memorable experience.
We lay on our stomachs for half an hour staring at our respective square inches of soil. People talk about watching the grass grow and that’s what it felt like.
The idea was to observe everything you could about that tiny plot of land in 30 minutes.
At first I looked only for action. There were a few ants and bugs crawling around, and it was fascinating to see them up so close and see how they moved and responded to their environment. But then I started to notice the grasses and other plants all crowded into that tiny square. There were even bits of bare soil poking through, with different colored grains of sand and soil.
At the end of the half hour, my friend and I felt refreshed and quietly inspired by all we had seen and taken in: the wonder and intricacy of a tiny slice of creation.
Thinking of that experience along with seeing the crocus in my front yard recently, gave me a whole new sense of what it means to see God’s glory.
It’s easy to be impressed with those sunset pictures over the Grand Canyon, or majestic, snow-capped mountains with clear blue skies behind them. And we should be. But how often do we see God’s glory in the small things?
My goal for this week, and hopefully beyond, is to search for God’s glory in the little things that I usually pass by. I’ve started a list and plan to add to it. We’ll start with the crocus and go from there:
- Crocus blooming in my front yard: God’s glory bursts upon us. Do we notice? Are we grateful?
- The whole front yard reflected in a single rain drop hanging from a twig: God’s glory is reflected in one loving word or act
- Earthworms quietly doing their magic in my garden, making my soil better: every detail of God’s creation is at work to glorify Him
- Salt and pepper at the table: just a smidgen of God’s glory gives flavor to our lives
- Paperclips: Okay, this is a man-made object, but it still glorifies God. It brings order to chaos, just as God’s glory does in our lives. A tiny paperclip can hold important ideas. A tiny moment of obedience to God holds our lives together
These are just a few things I’ve been thinking about.
Where can you find God’s glory?
I hope you will join me in this adventure to find God’s glory in the tiny things of life. If you’re not used to observing things in this way, you have to make a conscious choice to do so.
Take five or ten minutes in your yard, or in the park, or wherever you are, and notice the little things in your world. Think about how they represent God’s glory, as the lilies of the field do.
And please don’t just do it once. Make it a way of life, a way of thinking and observing life.
I’d love to hear what you come up with.
Move over King Solomon.
Blessings and glory to you,
James
