The petal in the wind
I was in the garden at the weekend enjoying the hot weather when something on the nearby rosemary bush caught my eye. It seemed like a rosemary ’spore’ was suspended in the air all by itself with absolutely nothing to support it. It was a very strange sight indeed as it jiggled in a very gentle breeze and twirled around and around in its spot without falling to the ground. It made me wonder, and it was only when I peered much closer that I realised that the spore was actually dangling on a very fine spider’s thread spun from one of the bush’s branches. It was this tiny delicate thread that was keeping the spore attached to the bush - that was all. When the wind picked up, or if an animal or bird brushed against it, the spider’s thread would surely break and the spore would fall to the ground. However as the sun shone all seemed well and the spore looked and felt secure.
And so with the church, I felt God say. How many people think they are attached to the bush - or the true vine that is Christ - they go to church and do Christian activities etc but in reality they are really only hanging on around the peripheray with nothing of real substance holding them up? Their faith is shallow and they do not even realise it. When the winds (being difficulties, persecution etc) come, these people will surely fall away, as their faith is not truly centred on Jesus and there is little real relationship or knowledge of God - or obedience through discipleship.
Make sure you are attached to the true vine, as close to the core of the plant as possible, so when the storm comes you will not be shaken and you will overcome.
Simply - Amen! Arise and strengthen what remains….