GOD’S WORD FOR SEPTEMBER 12
GOD’S WORD FOR SEPTEMBER 12 ~ ~ John 15:5~ ~ “I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.”
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Two groups of tropical vines rely for reproduction on the world’s only known species of pollen-eating butterfly. Neither vine has very showy flowers, nor do their flowers have any scent. However, they don’t need to attract pollinators because the Heliconius butterfly depends on the pollen produced by the vines for its food. So the butterflies don’t go far from their food source.
Since the butterfly depends on the pollen, the vines produce many more male flowers than female. This keeps its army of pollinators well fed. Being messy eaters, the butterflies end up with pollen all over them.
But what would attract the butterfly to the female flower, which can be up to 20 feet away? Two tricks are used. First, a female flower usually grows close to where a male flower has just withered. Second, the female flower, while producing no pollen, looks just like the male flower to invite the butterfly’s attention.
Did you see the intelligence in this arrangement? If only chance were involved, why would the only known species of pollen-eating butterfly be found with the only known vines that rely on their services? This is a very big planet! If there is no design in this arrangement, why should these vines offer female flowers that look like the males so that they will be pollinated? It is so clear that these butterflies were custom-made for these vines, and the vines were made for the butterflies. This is a witness to a personal Creator Who is personally involved in life on Earth!
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined
d together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Just as the powerful verse quoted in the beginning brings us peace and faith, namely, Romans 8:28
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
So the other above quoted verses show God’s planned unity of the Church. Just as He worked the lives of the vine and the butterflies together, so He also works the individual lives of the members of His Body, the spiritual Church of Christ throughout this world.
We don’t have to be physically near another member to be one with them. We don’t have to know them. God doesn’t live in time nor space, and neither do our spirits that are joined to His Spirit. So, pray for all members of His body, and pray for His will to be done within the Church, as well as in each individual, remembering that all things work for good to bring about His Perfect will.
Praise You, Lord Jesus, for your overflowing covering of Your Bride, the Church, in this fallen world.
Help us to feel Your loving arms around each of us, and around the Bridal Unit as a whole. Help us to know Your protecting wings, enclosing us in Your grace and perfect Love, as we rest in You and feel Your spiritual heartbeat in our souls. We praise You for working ALL things together for good, no matter how they look to our eyes. Help us, please, to see all things through YOUR eyes. In the powerful name of Jesus our Savior and Lord, amen.
Live in the Light of Our Lord 