Matthew Chapter 5
Every year at Mother’s Day time, our daughter, Georgia McGill makes two beautiful flower pots for her mother. Georgia is very talented at making those pots since she and her husband owned and ran a farm supply store in Lincolnton. They also had several hot houses where they grew a large assortment of beautiful flowers. Many of those flowers were used in her gorgeous flower pots which all looked like a “splash of Spring color”. My wife, Carolyn, always looks forward to getting those beautiful flower pots at Mother’s Day each year. They are watered, babied and enjoyed for several months.
One of the flower pots Georgia gave Carolyn this year is one of the prettiest ever. It is loaded with some Zinnias which are a beautiful red with a yellow center to them. Some deer ate the tops of them a few weeks ago and really did the pot a favor in trimming them back because they have returned with far more blooms which are very thick.
Recently, while sitting in my study writing a column on my computer, I noticed that a beautiful butterfly was enjoying those flowers. He must have really liked them because he fluttered around them and sipped from them for quite a while. He didn’t want to move on very fast. He was a pretty rusty color with black dots on his wings. Some of the dots had a white center and looked like eyes. I have seen these butterflies all of my life but do not know what their name is. I’m not an expert on butterflies. I just enjoy watching them. I had a front row seat to watch one of God’s beautiful creatures doing what he does by nature….flitting around from flower to flower looking gorgeous.
One thing I noticed about this wondrous creature is that he would come back each day at about the very same time, hang around for a while and fly away only to return the next morning and afternoon and do the same thing. It made me wonder if a butterfly has a memory. It seems to me that this one demonstrated to me that they do have the capacity to remember otherwise how would he know where our flower pot was. So, I think that butterflies don’t just flitter away and never come back like I had always thought but they remember where their favorite flowers are and they also remember how to get back to them. Those little creatures know where their blessings are and they never get so far from them that they can’t get back. It seems to me that there are Lessons From a Butterfly for all of us as we relate to God in our lives.
Most everyone desires for God to bless them with His abundant blessings from heaven. Even those who have no personal relationship with God think that He will bless them any time they ask for it. They think that they deserve a blessing even though they have no basis for thinking that. But, those of us who have given our lives to Jesus Christ have a promise of blessings from the Lord. One can read the Sermon on the Mount and discover how much God cares for and provides for us. Anyone who has a proper relationship to God through His Son can attest to how He has guided their lives over the years. He has provided for them and protected them. As a person looks back over the years, they can see how God has kept them from evil and how he has provided his protection and guidance. We can reflect on how He has given us all things. Spiritual blessings as well as those which are of a material nature come from Him.
We must be careful about the source of our “blessings” because satan can give his people all the things of this world and tell them that they are coming from God. He is trying to fool people when he does this kind of thing. He is trying to get people to believe that their sinful life really doesn’t matter because God is blessing them abundantly when in fact, He is not providing the blessing, satan is. Satan just keeps them travelling on the same road of life thinking all along that they are safe. Here is how to know if a blessing is from God or not. If a person satisfies themselves in a selfish self-centered way with what they are “blessed” with, it’s a pretty good sign that it is not from God. Also, if the gift takes them further into rebellion against God it is a very good sign that God is not giving it to them but satan is. But, if a person uses the blessings to bring honor to the Lord and if it leads them to live a Godly life, then the Father is giving it to them. Satan can load a person down with money, possessions, fame, position and influence but God is not necessarily involved. Blessings from God will be on a deeper level. Peace is a good example of this kind of blessing. Matthew 5 shows us many more. He can also give his obedient people the blessings that are mentioned above they demonstrate His love for someone who is saved and obedient. The by-product of God’s blessings is that they will be used in a gracious way helping people and demonstrating that we can also bless God by the way we respond to what He has given to us.
One great thing about God’s blessings is that they continue to be showered upon us all the days of our lives. They never stop! Here is where the Lessons From a Butterfly come in. Many times, even obedient people stray from the Lord for a season. They know the danger of doing so but our old human flesh is very strong and destructive. God still loves us and is always there for His people. He may be hurt when we sin but He does not give up on his beloved. We must do like our little butterfly. We must remember where our blessings come from and return there for more blessings. We can’t forget how to get back into a right relationship with God. It is through repentance and confession of sins. God is always there, just like the flower pot that hasn’t moved. He is still offering blessings just like the butterfly knows that the flower pot offers them a fulfilling blessing each and every time it remembers the source of its blessings and returns to it. He doesn’t forget where it is at then how to get there. We must not forget as well.
You want blessings from God? Give your life to Christ and the blessings will flow. Use them right and God will give more to an obedient and responsible person who knows where their blessings are coming from and who remembers their Father who is the source. Ask Him to bless you and also request that He provides you with the opportunity to bless Him as well. We often ask for blessings but fail to remember that we should be a blessing to God.
Be like the butterfly. Know your source of blessings, don’t stray away, remember where the blessings are and avail yourselves of every opportunity to partake of them by pleasing God and receiving His bountiful provisions for His children.
If a butterfly knows where his blessings are and knows how to get back to them, then how much more should we do the same thing?
My, My, that pot of flowers is beautiful and the little butterfly is faithful and healthy.
