“There is not a plant or flow’r below But makes Thy glories known,
and clouds arise and tempests blow,
By order from Thy throne.
While all that borrows life from Thee
Is ever in Thy care;
And everywhere that man can be, Thou, God,
art present there.”
This is a hymn of Isaac Watts written in 1715. And in just a few little lines Isaac Watts reminds me of the promises of God in the flowers, even though God has allowed the trials to come much like the clouds,(out of nowhere,)that I am ‘ever in His care,’ and that no matter what, God is with me.
What a sweet treasure verse three of ‘I Sing the Mighty Power of God’ is. The other verses remind us of His mighty power, His flowing seas, His lofty skies, His sun and moon and stars. And His wonders of creation – but verse three,
brings everything down to you and me.
Because I can see all the magnificence – and enjoy the wonder of it all –
but I need to hear His voice.
So the sweet reminder,‘There’s not a plant or flow’r below But makes Thy glories known…’But it’s not all sweet, that is, if you were the seed that was originally planted.
Yes, God speaks to me with the flowers. The way that the stars are written of in the Bible, God speaks to me through the flowers. Do you remember Psalm 19?
“The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.
Day unto day utters speech…There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard…and their words to the end of the world.”
Well, for me, I cannot stay up late because I am worthless in the evening- I find that speech in the flowers. What is its speech?
It is not easy, it is not pretty – but when I look at the flower I see the prize and it keeps me on the right path.
“What is it’s speech?” You might be saying, get on with it.
“There’s not a plant or flower below But maketh Thy glories known…’
They speak the words of Jesus,
“The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.
Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and
dies
it remains alone; but if it dies,
it produces much grain.” John 12:23,24.
You see, we can’t see the flower, until there was a death that had occurred. But because a grain of wheat fell into the ground and died, it then sprouted and grew and was nourished and brought forth fruit.
And things in life happen that are ‘not fair’! Things happen that hurt and bring scars – Jesus knows.
He was mistreated and misunderstood, He was hurt and has scars. He prayed,“Not My will, Father, but Yours be done.” and He willingly went to the cross and
died.
But now there is so much life, so much life- everlasting life to all who believe!
So what does this mean for you and for me?
Am I willing to lay down my rights? Am I willing put off my pride? And for what?
For the promise, for the Promise:
“As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
rooted , (just like a plant,)and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught…”
It’s hard to die to ‘self!’ But remember the flower and all of its beauty.
‘Rooted and built up…as you have been taught’,
You might be saying, “Remind us, what have we been taught? There is too much dirt right now in this dying stuff, not a lot of color, just darkness! Please keep it simple!”
In a child’s version, here it is:
“God has chosen you and made you His holy people. He loves you. So always do these things:
Show mercy to others, (don’t give them what they deserve!)
Colossians 3:12.
“This is way too hard!” you might be saying.
Remember the fruit, remember the flowers!
“Be kind,
humble,
gentle,
and patient.” Colossians 3:12.
“Death” is the appropriate word here! Most definitely!” you might be saying as well.
Oh, yes, but the fruit, remember the flowers!
“So do not be angry with each other, but forgive each other. If someone does wrong to you, then forgive him. Forgive each other because the Lord
forgave you.
Do all these things; but most important,
love each other.” Collosians 3:13,14.
“But I can’t do this,” you might be saying.
You are so right. We cannot do this- but He can!
We cannot forget that
“Christ died, and we have been joined with Christ by dying too.” ( I just make a lot more noise in my dying than He did!)So we will also be joined with Him by rising from death as He did…
We know...(well, if you didn’t know or forgot, you and I now KNOW!) that our old life died with Christ on the cross (when we received Him in our lives),…Anyone who has died is made free from sin’s control.” (!)Romans6:6. Exclamation point mine. We have power over sin because of Him.
“There’s not a plant or flow’r below But makes Thy glories known.” The flowers are the fruit! The fruit of the Spirit is love; joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. Gal 5:22.
“If a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies…”
I cannot do this on my own, but Oh, “I will sing of the Mighty Power of God”, because In Him, I can do all things, even bear good fruit.
and clouds arise and tempests blow,
By order from Thy throne.
While all that borrows life from Thee
Is ever in Thy care;
And everywhere that man can be, Thou, God,
art present there.”
This is a hymn of Isaac Watts written in 1715. And in just a few little lines Isaac Watts reminds me of the promises of God in the flowers, even though God has allowed the trials to come much like the clouds,(out of nowhere,)that I am ‘ever in His care,’ and that no matter what, God is with me.
What a sweet treasure verse three of ‘I Sing the Mighty Power of God’ is. The other verses remind us of His mighty power, His flowing seas, His lofty skies, His sun and moon and stars. And His wonders of creation – but verse three,
brings everything down to you and me.
Because I can see all the magnificence – and enjoy the wonder of it all –
but I need to hear His voice.
So the sweet reminder,‘There’s not a plant or flow’r below But makes Thy glories known…’But it’s not all sweet, that is, if you were the seed that was originally planted.
Yes, God speaks to me with the flowers. The way that the stars are written of in the Bible, God speaks to me through the flowers. Do you remember Psalm 19?
“The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.
Day unto day utters speech…There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard…and their words to the end of the world.”
Well, for me, I cannot stay up late because I am worthless in the evening- I find that speech in the flowers. What is its speech?
It is not easy, it is not pretty – but when I look at the flower I see the prize and it keeps me on the right path.
“What is it’s speech?” You might be saying, get on with it.
“There’s not a plant or flower below But maketh Thy glories known…’
They speak the words of Jesus,
“The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.
Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and
dies
it remains alone; but if it dies,
it produces much grain.” John 12:23,24.
You see, we can’t see the flower, until there was a death that had occurred. But because a grain of wheat fell into the ground and died, it then sprouted and grew and was nourished and brought forth fruit.
And things in life happen that are ‘not fair’! Things happen that hurt and bring scars – Jesus knows.
He was mistreated and misunderstood, He was hurt and has scars. He prayed,“Not My will, Father, but Yours be done.” and He willingly went to the cross and
died.
But now there is so much life, so much life- everlasting life to all who believe!
So what does this mean for you and for me?
Am I willing to lay down my rights? Am I willing put off my pride? And for what?
For the promise, for the Promise:
“As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
rooted , (just like a plant,)and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught…”
It’s hard to die to ‘self!’ But remember the flower and all of its beauty.
‘Rooted and built up…as you have been taught’,
You might be saying, “Remind us, what have we been taught? There is too much dirt right now in this dying stuff, not a lot of color, just darkness! Please keep it simple!”
In a child’s version, here it is:
“God has chosen you and made you His holy people. He loves you. So always do these things:
Show mercy to others, (don’t give them what they deserve!)
Colossians 3:12.
“This is way too hard!” you might be saying.
Remember the fruit, remember the flowers!
“Be kind,
humble,
gentle,
and patient.” Colossians 3:12.
“Death” is the appropriate word here! Most definitely!” you might be saying as well.
Oh, yes, but the fruit, remember the flowers!
“So do not be angry with each other, but forgive each other. If someone does wrong to you, then forgive him. Forgive each other because the Lord
forgave you.
Do all these things; but most important,
love each other.” Collosians 3:13,14.
“But I can’t do this,” you might be saying.
You are so right. We cannot do this- but He can!
We cannot forget that
“Christ died, and we have been joined with Christ by dying too.” ( I just make a lot more noise in my dying than He did!)So we will also be joined with Him by rising from death as He did…
We know...(well, if you didn’t know or forgot, you and I now KNOW!) that our old life died with Christ on the cross (when we received Him in our lives),…Anyone who has died is made free from sin’s control.” (!)Romans6:6. Exclamation point mine. We have power over sin because of Him.
“There’s not a plant or flow’r below But makes Thy glories known.” The flowers are the fruit! The fruit of the Spirit is love; joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. Gal 5:22.
“If a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies…”
I cannot do this on my own, but Oh, “I will sing of the Mighty Power of God”, because In Him, I can do all things, even bear good fruit.