Water the Plants

It’s my early morning ritual.
Something I do from early May until late September.
Water my plants.

The back deck, side porch, and front walkway all have potted or hanging plants.
Each area gets different amount of sunlight throughout the day.
So to accommodate the deck, in the back of the house, on the sunny south side, early morning is the best time to water before the heat of the day.

There is something so fulfilling in taking care of potted plants.
Maybe because they have been chosen, purchased, and brought home I feel a bit more attached to them.

When the sun comes through the water spray, I can see mini rainbows.
Hitting the leaves just right, the droplets glisten in the sunlight.
Everything gets a good drink…and the plants seem to be thriving.

Sometimes, though not often, I am not able to water the plants until later in the day.
The ones in the full sun, wilt a bit even in that short period of time.
They need water…desperately…in order to grow properly.

Do you know that we are called plantings in the Bible?

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor. (Isaiah 61:3)

Imagine that!
God tends to us much like we tend to our plants.
Only much better.
He does it perfectly.

He will not wait until later in the day.
He will make sure we are watered with His Word.
He lovingly cares for us so that we will thrive.

There is variety in God’s people much like there is variety in plants.
All colors, all sizes, some fragrant, some not so much…
All beautiful…because the Master Gardener is tending to His garden.

I am the true vine and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. (John 15:1,2)

Pruning is delicate work.
Only the Pruner knows whether he is pruning or cutting off.
I have heard it said that both must feel the same to the tree.
Pruning is necessary so that the tree grows better…healthier…more fruitful.

God wants His garden to flourish…for the display of His splendor.
We adorn God’s walkway…the path to the Kingdom.

The Lord assigned to each his task. I [Paul] planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field…
(1 Corinthians 3:5-9)

There are plants all around us that need to be watered.
They need to drink from the fountain of God’s Word in order to live.
They need to be nourished, cared for, and yes, even pruned so that healthy growth occurs.
The saddest thing to see is a plant unattended.

What seed can we plant today?
Who can we water?
What needy plant must we place in the Son-light so that it will thrive?
We each have a task to do…but only God makes the plant grow.

Growth is His work.
His Garden is for His splendor.
We adorn His walkway.
We point the way to the Gardener.

The Gardener chooses…purchases with the blood of His Son…and brings His plants home.
Perhaps that is why He is so attached.
The ever present Gardener…tending…watering…caring for His plants.

He gives us the privilege of helping Him tend His garden.
Let’s get out the gardening gloves.
Let’s get on our knees.
We have work to do.
We must water the plants.