Blooming with new life
Every year, I buy an amaryllis bulb, put it in the planting mix, give it some water and set it in a window. Then I marvel at how a bud emerges from the bulb, growing taller and larger until it finally bursts into bloom. It’s nothing short of a miracle. If you’ve ever looked at or planted flower bulbs, you know they look nothing like what they will become. Unless you’re familiar with bulbs, you probably can’t even tell what kind they are.
It’s the same with us. It’s not until the kindness of God leads us to repent of who we are and brings our hearts back to life that we begin growing into who we really are. ‘This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!’ (2 Corinthians 5:17, NLT). You could say we resemble dry, brown, shriveled up bulbs before the love, grace and mercy of Christ fill us with his own life and then the fruit of the Spirit begins to bud.
Only in Christ are we new creatures. No amount of trying, hard work or self-discipline can change us on the inside, only the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. Just as a flower bulb can’t transform itself, but is dependent on the life given to it by the hand of God, so we must depend on him and the living water he causes to well up within us. We need to trust that Christ in us will bring the new me and the new you to life and then remember that even if others look like dried up bulbs, they too might someday become new creatures, blooming with his life.
|
Study by: Tammy Tkach About the author: |
 |
About the writer:
Tammy Tkach is the Assistant Pastor of the Eugene, Oregon, USA, Grace Communion International congregation. She is a speaker and writer, and publishes a blog at www.gemsofgodsgrace.wordpress.com
Local congregation:
You are welcome to attend one of our local church congregations located throughout the UK and Ireland. For details of your nearest local congregation, check on our website, Grace Communion International | Grace Communion International under the ‘Churches’ tab, or ring +44 (0)1858 437099.
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church