TEXT: ‘For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land’ (Song of Solomon 2:11-12) THOUGHT: Over seven years ago, while visiting the National Trust property Lanhydrock House, we admired a trough full of flowering plants which we later discovered to be the Shaving Brush or Haemanthus Albiflos. We purchased two in bloom and looked forward to a colourful display the following year. Alas it was not to be and for six years all we had was greenery but no sign of any flowers. Then a couple of weeks ago we suddenly noticed flowers appearing. How we rejoiced! Today’s Teaching is about how this experience can help us spiritually. Separation We had kept the plants separate but discovered they needed to be clumped together rather than on their own, keeping the new shoots all in the same pot. The Bible says, ‘Let us not neglect our church meetings’ (Hebrews 10:25 TLB). Take a hot coal from the fire and it soon cools on its own. People, trying to justify non-attendance in church say, “I can worship God anywhere”. True, but in order to produce something worthwhile,...
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TEXT: ‘Do not judge and criticize and condemn [others unfairly with an attitude of self-righteous superiority as though assuming the office of a judge], so that you will not be judged [unfairly]’ (Matthew 7:1 AMP) THOUGHT: In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught with a clarity the Jews were not used to. There was no ambiguity or loopholes. Just plain speaking that leaves us now in no doubt as to what we should do, whether it is the God/Man relationship or with each other. This is especially true when it comes to what we think of other people. When we judge others we are in danger of devaluing them Jesus taught the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. ‘The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector’ (Luke 18:11). He judged the tax collector to be far beneath him but his prayer never went further than the ceiling! Judging others means we end up thinking or saying they are not worth as much as they used to be. It is not what we think they are worth but the value God places on them. Many times we write people off but God...
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