01 November, 2015

The People is Grass



I noticed a yellow-y-green hue across the paddock, while I was busy taking photos of the bright blossoms on the fruit trees. Must be just those little yellow clover flowers, I thought. But I walked over to have a look, and it was not those common flowers. Instead, there were hundreds, or maybe thousands, of these tiny, intricate fly-catcher-type plants. They were so miniature, and so detailed, with perfectly round drops of sticky stuff on their many tips. 

(By this point you’ve probably realized that I’m not practiced at detailed descriptions, and I’ll leave you to study the photos to see what I’m talking about.)  






A couple of days later, as I was reading in Isaiah, I came upon these verses: “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth… surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” Isaiah 40:7-8 I’d always understood these verses as saying: life is fragile and short; we wither and fade just like flowers and grass. Of course, that’s still true, but on this particular morning, I saw something different. 

There’s a contrast presented between the short life of flowers and grass, and God’s word which lasts forever. It says the people is grass. So it could read: People will fail you. They will fade and wither, not be there for you anymore. Even friends you thought would be there always; they’re still grass, maybe they won’t. But, don’t worry, because God’s word is always going to be there for you; always, and forever, and for eternity. You can rely on it, you can build your hopes on it, you can live your life by it, because it will never change; it’s solid.

So many things in today’s world, even people, are like grass. They’re transitory, they don’t last, they’re there one moment, and gone the next. We’ve got to have an anchor, something we can grip on to when everything else we know is perishing, shaking and falling apart. There’s only One, and His immutable word that we can trust, that lasts forever, that we can hold on to and know with a surety that He won’t pass away like grass, or whither like flowers. “Lo,” He assures us, “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:20)


P.s Happy November! I can't believe it's here already. What have you got planned for this month?

22 comments:

  1. Wow!! That is very thought provoking. But so true. Thank you, Jessica.

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    1. Thank you for reading, and commenting, Erudessa. Have a great day! :)

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    1. Thanks, Ashleigh! It's nice to hear from you. :) And yes, we need to be sure of our foundation, because there's only one safe place... Glad you enjoy this small blog - praise God. :)

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  3. This is such a beautiful post, thank you for writing it.
    People are labile, fickle, while our God is always strong. It's such a comfort to know that in Him we will always be safe.

    -T. x

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    1. And thank you for reading, and commenting! :) Yes, it is comforting to have a safe place... especially because our world is so turbulent these days.

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  4. And yet, even with something that won't last forever -- God took time to make it amazingly intricate and beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Wow, I like that thought - it's so true; He shows His care in every aspect of creation.

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  5. Thank you for sharing this post, Jessica! The Lord spoke to me through that verse as well only very recently, so it was a wonderful confirmation to see you share it. He is our Anchor and sure Hope in the storm. . . !

    Also these are beautiful flowers - how amazing. God bless, and have a beautiful November month! I'll be off the internet, and hope to study lots, but I am looking forward to the Christmas season. What about you?

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    1. Oh, it's nice to hear that someone else was impacted by that verse! I discovered in in my recent read-through Isaiah. Have you read that book? I really enjoyed it, and found some amazing passages.

      You have a great November too, and I hope you get lots of studying done! Perhaps I'd do well to follow your example - I have quite a bit to finish before the end of the year. As always, thanks for taking the time to comment, and God bless you too. :)

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  6. The three musketeers2 November 2015 at 11:40

    We just stumbled on your blog and we love it! Remember to check ours out, too! :)
    -Hannah, Anna, and Emma
    www.the3musketeerssite.wordpress.com

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    1. Well, thank-you Hannah, Anna, and Emma! I'm happy to have you here, and glad you like it!

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  7. Never seen that passage from quite that perspective. Hmm, that's really encouraging! Thanks for sharing dear girl :) I like the flower photos as well! Love, Shan.

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    1. Glad you're encouraged! Thank you for reading and commenting, Shan. I'll see you soon!!

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  8. Wonderful take on this passage--really blessed by it. An extension of my devotions this morning! :)

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    1. Thanks for your sweet comment, Meghan! I'm humbled to think God blessed you through these words. xx

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  9. I've never seen that particular verse that way before. I like the new idea! Thanks for sharing and beautiful pictures! I love the detail your camera captured!

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    1. You're welcome, glad you learnt something! Thanks so much for commenting and following; you made my day. :)

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  10. THIS. Is so beautiful!! The pictures are gorgeous, too. I've never seen plants like those, and before I read the context of this post, I was trying to see shapes of people in the plants (yup, welcome to my abstract mind) and I was like... "Huh. I guess they kind of look like little faces..." xD So cute though.

    I like your thoughts on this scripture. It's true, people, friends, and even family will fail you and not be there for you at times, but God will always be there. We've also become new creatures through Jesus' death and resurrection -- and that means that we have already died with him on the cross. We, as a people, have already faded away, but the Word of the Lord -- Jesus -- will never fade away. He lives inside of us and shines out through out eyes and our fingertips and our toes. His heartbeat is in our chests. ♥

    Thank you for sharing this! And I'm following now. :D
    love,
    abbiee

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    1. Abbiee! Thanks for your comment! They do kind of look like faces, now that you mention it. :) And thanks for sharing you thoughts - i like that: "His heartbeat is in our chests". It's amazing to think about, and it gives such a hope and assurance.

      Thanks so much for following too; I'm honoured. :)

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  11. Wow, that's a new way for me to look at those verses! So thankful that even though people/friends may change and not always be there for us, He will be and that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. This was really encouraging and pretty pictures of the flowers...I've never seen any like that before. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Yes! It is encouraging; our Saviour is reliable, always. Thank you for reading and commenting. :)

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