Jeremiah 27-29
Titus 3
“I am the LORD; in its time I will do this swiftly.” —Isaiah 60:22
After Jesus was born, Scripture was silent for about 30 years of His life. Historians called these unknown years of Jesus’s life His silent years, lost years or missing years. What happened during these 30 years? Could it be intentional that God just tucked Jesus away? Could this be God’s way of ushering Jesus into humility, hard work, obscurity, submission and contentment? To take Him to a place of untested obedience to a tested obedience?
Consider a buried winter seed, do we know how it starts to germinate? Some of us may think it is the warm weather and water, but that is not the case, especially for fruit trees and hardwoods, because a warm spell would prove disastrous for so many seeds. The buried seed actually starts sprouting because of something called “scarification,” where the buried seed freezes over winter, thaws and then freezes. This seed experiences an abrasion that softens its hard waterproof shell. After the scarification process, at the right time, the seed will grow a primary root.
In our society, we have such an obsession with being equipped to serve God. Some of us define being equipped as acquiring wisdom and knowledge, reading books and going to conferences. While there is nothing wrong with that, have we considered that maybe God wants to equip us by burying us deep in the dark and the cold in order to let His scarification do its work so that at the right time, we can bear fruit?
Like with Moses, Hebrews 11:24-25 tells us, “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be ill-treated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.” Moses was willing to suffer with the people of God instead of enjoying the ease of being part of Pharaoh’s household. Yet, his willingness eventually led him to murder, so he had to be tucked away in the desert for 40 years. He needed to be taught humility, surrender and dependence before he could lead the children of Israel to the Promised Land.
Likewise, Jesus went through a scarification period. Hebrews 5:8 tells us, “Son though He was, He learned obedience from what He suffered.” The word “learn” in the Greek is manthanō, which is tied to experiencing. In other words, Jesus learned by using and practicing. When Jesus’s obedience was tested through trial and temptation, His innocence became virtue. The suffering of getting buried led to an incredible fruit.
Dear God, in times of silence in the wilderness, help me to be faithful to You, who allowed me to be buried, so that at the right time there will be beautiful, eternal fruit. Thank You, Lord
Titus 3
“I am the LORD; in its time I will do this swiftly.” —Isaiah 60:22
After Jesus was born, Scripture was silent for about 30 years of His life. Historians called these unknown years of Jesus’s life His silent years, lost years or missing years. What happened during these 30 years? Could it be intentional that God just tucked Jesus away? Could this be God’s way of ushering Jesus into humility, hard work, obscurity, submission and contentment? To take Him to a place of untested obedience to a tested obedience?
Consider a buried winter seed, do we know how it starts to germinate? Some of us may think it is the warm weather and water, but that is not the case, especially for fruit trees and hardwoods, because a warm spell would prove disastrous for so many seeds. The buried seed actually starts sprouting because of something called “scarification,” where the buried seed freezes over winter, thaws and then freezes. This seed experiences an abrasion that softens its hard waterproof shell. After the scarification process, at the right time, the seed will grow a primary root.
In our society, we have such an obsession with being equipped to serve God. Some of us define being equipped as acquiring wisdom and knowledge, reading books and going to conferences. While there is nothing wrong with that, have we considered that maybe God wants to equip us by burying us deep in the dark and the cold in order to let His scarification do its work so that at the right time, we can bear fruit?
Like with Moses, Hebrews 11:24-25 tells us, “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be ill-treated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.” Moses was willing to suffer with the people of God instead of enjoying the ease of being part of Pharaoh’s household. Yet, his willingness eventually led him to murder, so he had to be tucked away in the desert for 40 years. He needed to be taught humility, surrender and dependence before he could lead the children of Israel to the Promised Land.
Likewise, Jesus went through a scarification period. Hebrews 5:8 tells us, “Son though He was, He learned obedience from what He suffered.” The word “learn” in the Greek is manthanō, which is tied to experiencing. In other words, Jesus learned by using and practicing. When Jesus’s obedience was tested through trial and temptation, His innocence became virtue. The suffering of getting buried led to an incredible fruit.
Dear God, in times of silence in the wilderness, help me to be faithful to You, who allowed me to be buried, so that at the right time there will be beautiful, eternal fruit. Thank You, Lord
← Older Post Newer Post →