WEEK 51 – DAY 2

FOCUS ON THE FLOWERS, NOT ON THE THORNS

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 1 Peter 4:7-9

Do these verses teach that we are to ignore sin in our brother’s life? No! There are other verses that tell us to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15) and seek to restore a believer who has strayed (Galatians 6:1). However, we are not to see only the sins when we look at a person or put fellow believers under a microscope to spot a speck when we are burdened with a beam (Matthew 7:3). We can choose to see the flowers in a thorny life and encourage more to bloom. My rose bushes are not pretty plants and are covered in prickly thorns; but when I nurture them properly, lovingly giving them plant food and water as well as keeping out weeds, they yield gorgeous roses. Many times, we are willing to try to painfully yank the weeds (sins) out of our brother’s life, but then we don’t stick around to nourish the flowers that are beginning to bud by discipling and mentoring him. Extend hospitality to someone; and while he’s eating dinner at your table, be sure you compliment him on the beautiful blooms Father is growing in his life and pour the water of encouragement into his life.

Father, help us to see past the rough exterior of an individual and see through the Spirit’s eyes what You are molding in his or her life. Help us to water and nourish the budding Christians around us rather than just pointing out and attempting to pull the weeds that only Your Holy Spirit can eradicate.