My garden is really growing at the moment. Every time a new shoot appears I get excited, wondering what it will be and how it’s going to develop. Is it a weed or is it a beautiful flower? Perhaps there’ll be a herb or two, or even a parsnip!
I’m loving the wildness and unpredictability of it. A bluebell popped up it’s head the other day and I’m loving the forget-me-nots. But there are also bushes running rampant that need a little care.
When I look out of the window my little patch reminds me of a prophecy revealed at church – that wildflowers will grow here.
Yes!
The Christian life, our walk with Jesus, is only real when we’re allowed to be who God made us to be in all our beautiful wildness. When we’re encouraged to grow in our own unique way. We come in all shapes and sizes with our own way of being and Jesus wants us to flourish in that…
Wildflowers in the Bible
The Bible is full of wildflower characters. Think of Mary Magdalene, one of Jesus’ faithful disciples…
“Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.” – Luke 8:1-3 (NLT)
She had been posessed by demons who were in control of her life. And it’s likely she’d have been suffering severe emotional or psychological trauma as a result. Yet under Jesus’ care she became healed and whole, ultimately travelling with the twelve and supporting them out of her own means.
Life had changed significantly for Mary because she was truly and completely accepted by Christ and encouraged to grow under His care. Considering how often women were treated as second-class citizens and subordinated under judicial, social and religious laws of that time, that’s really wild!
Mary was then privileged to be the first person to see our risen saviour on Easter morning. She had a personal revelation as Jesus called her name…
“Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter…
Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her.
“Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?”
She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.”
“Mary!” Jesus said.
She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).”
– John 20:1-16 (NLT)
And He calls you by name too…
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.”– Isaiah 43:1b-2 (NIV)
Wildflowers today
You may think you’re too wild to follow Jesus. Perhaps you feel life is too out of control or you’ve done things too bad for Him to ever love you. Maybe you don’t believe you’ll ‘make the grade.’ Or because society marginalises you for something, you believe Jesus will too.
No! Jesus accepts and loves you unconditionally (John 3:16).
There was a time when I believed I’d never be good enough for anyone. But since becoming a Christian and getting to know Jesus as He truly is,* I’ve never felt more loved. Fact is, life with Christ is the wildest thing I’ve ever known.
So I say to you, “Are you wild enough?”
God bless xx
P.S. Want some encouragement in life? Check out my eBook here.
[*Please note: the media and how other people may portray Christ, even what you may see in some churches, is often not a true reflection of Him. Look to Jesus and His Word to get to know Him properly…]