The Lily
I bumped into an old friend from my youth group. Things had changed a lot since then. His life was a mess. Last time I saw him he was preaching to young people. Now he was on the run. It was late at night and we sat in his car. He began to tell me the woes of his life and the presence of the Holy Spirit filled the car. While he was speaking to me the Holy Spirit began to speak to me. His voice was loud and clear.
“Do you know why Solomon in all his splendor could not compare to the lilies of the field”? He asked.
I spoke to the Lord in my thoughts, “You know, Lord, I could never figure that out. I couldn’t imagine a flower being more beautiful than all those riches”.
The Lord spoke again “The Lily is the flower of death. You see it at funerals and on Easter. When a man is dead to his flesh there is nothing more beautiful to the Lord. The man sitting next to you is dying to his flesh. I am killing his flesh day-by-day. One day he will be a Lily. That is why I walk among the Lilies and the Thorns. I look upon my lilies with delight but the thorns I despise. The thorns are those who persecute my Lilies and worship the things of this world. When man is completely dead to the flesh he does not worry about tomorrow or what he will eat or drink. Instead, like a child he relies on me to provide for him daily. This is true peace. This is walking in the Kingdom of God, free from the cares of this world.
MT 6:28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
