They follow the sun
I’m sure if you have driven anywhere in the past week or so you have noticed that the lilies are blooming. From the common daylily to the exotic Tiger Lilies, African Queen, Easter Lily, Stargazer Lily, Madonna Lily, the Tango Lily, the Turk’s Cap Lily and the list goes on and on, 90 varieties in all. One of the 90 varieties of the lilies is called the Species Lily or the Wild Lily. Some of these lilies are simple like the common daylily, some are quite exotic like the Turk’s Cap Lily. The one thing they all have in common is they seek the sun. I have several varieties of these in my yard, and the ones that are exposed to the most sunlight are the most vivid in color and fullest. The ones that are in shade have not grown as tall, or have opened as fully.
Whenever I see the lilies bloom it puts me in mind of the Bible verse in Matthew, where Jesus is telling the disciples not to concern themselves with clothing and daily needs. The reason for this is because he will supply all their needs if they seek him. The Lilies are described to be more gloriously arrayed than Solomon in all his splendor. And the lilies did not have to do a single thing to unfold all their beauty, except seek the sun. I think Jesus is trying to tell us to: seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Putting it in layman’s terms it would be said like this: don’t sweat the small stuff. We are always at our best when we seek out the SON, and stay close to Him. God knows exactly what we need, so all we have to do is trust him to provide, and be good stewards of what he has given us.
As parents we need to teach our children to really look at the beauty that God puts in front of them every day. Pick a Lily, and examine it closely, and marvel at the intricacies of its inner depth, and the wonder of how God made such a beautiful thing. As beautiful as the lilies are, we are made perfect in his sight, due to the blood of Jesus Christ. Help your children appreciate the wonder of God’s creation and be thankful always.
We as authors try our best to describe the beauty we see all around us. The fact of the matter is that we fail miserably to describe what the eye can take in, giving us even more appreciation of how beautifully and wonderfully we were made. No camera lens can capture what we can see with the marvelous creation of the eyes God gave us. So we should always strive to give credit where credit is due, in the beauty of God’s creation. Consider the lilies!
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Matthew 6:28-29
If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Luke 12:28-31
For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
Psalms 84:11-12