God's Growing Servants

Last week Jesus told us that we are salt of the earth and light of the world.  These were 2 image-rich ways he talked about discipleship.  This week Paul tells us that we are growing plants.  And we have to start somewhere!  He begins by telling the Corinthians what they aren’t – mature Christians.  In essence he calls them babies in the faith.  This is not something that we enjoy hearing.  How do we know we are babies, in need of “milk” and not “solid food?”   We can check our attitude.  Are we prone to “jealousy and quarreling?”  Are we more interested in following our worship leaders than we are in following God?  If so, we may suffer from immaturity.    Paul does love mixing his metaphors … feeding babies to nurturing a garden … planting seeds, watering, and growing plants.  And how does our garden grow?  God.  Paul says, “Only God gives the growth.”  

One of the best ways to draw closer to God the Master Gardener is to pray with nature.  When I pray with nature, I take a contemplative walk with all of my senses.  Why not open the door and step out into the world.  Is there a park nearby or a lovely garden, a pond or a fountain?   As you walk, notice, simply notice and wonder as you wander :)  Notice the beauty of your surroundings as you walk.   Notice those things that mar the beauty as well.   Can you hear the breeze moving through the trees?  Can you hear the secrets that trees tell?   

The Wesley Center, Woodworth, LA

When you go back the way you came and arrive back at your starting point, you may be intensely drawn to the biblical text.  However, you may want to spend some time simply remembering how you noticed the presence of God on your walk and that is quite natural.  Spend time in rest and wonder … 

When you are ready to enter and pray with the biblical text through "Lectio Divina," begin by praying for illumination of the text ... God of Nature and Beauty, I am ready to grow.  Speak to my heart as I read and pray with your Word.  I want to be your servant, whole and complete.  Amen.   

Step 1:  Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 slowly and reverently ...What word or phrase calls for your attention in your reading?  Spend a few moments pondering how God, through the words of Paul to the Corinthian church may be inviting you through your word or phrase ... 

And so, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.  I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations?  For when one says, "I belong to Paul," and another, "I belong to Apollos," are you not merely human?  What then is Apollos? What is Paul?  Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each.  I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.  So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.  The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each.  For we are God's servants, working together; you are God's field, God's building.

Step 2:  Read the passage again and Reflect ...
How does your word or phrase from this passage illuminate your life or the life of your community right now?  How is God inviting you to change or grow or pray or act?

Step 3:  Read the passage again and Respond ...
What do you say to God about your life and how you feel you are being called to grow into a mature Christian person?   How do you pray when you consider what God is saying to you?

Step 4:  Rest ...
Come to a place of silence within yourself and just "be" with God.  Try for 10 minutes or beyond. When you are ready to move on,  pray:

God, Master Gardener of my Spiritual Life, the seeds have been firmly planted.  Pour you living water upon the garden of my soul and help me grow strong and reliant on prayer and your Presence.  Amen.  

There is a beautiful song called Hymn of Promise.  It is often played at funerals so many people have that sense of it ... I just find it hopeful and encouraging.  If music is a pathway for you, take a few moments to listen and view the lovely nature scenes that have been chosen.  Know ... that who we really are at our most whole, who God created us to be, fully grown and mature is "unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see."