IDEA
noun: something imagined or pictured in the mind; a plan for action
“We can only keep going, after all, by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work. We had nothing to do with it. It was all his idea…” 2 Timothy 1:8-9
God has so many wonderful ideas.
Billions and billions of them–each one unique and intricate and miraculous.
Life was his idea.
Every living thing comes from him. He imagined stars, oceans, continents, gardens, fish, birds, insects, and mammals. He created babies to grow inside of their mothers and be born. He made music, poetry, friendship, laughter, campfires, and homemade pie.
And he designed the flowers.
As I write this, life is beginning on some shelves in our basement. In some old clay pots, tiny shoots of green are poking up through dark, moist soil. Within weeks, delicate buds will appear and burst open into brilliant purple blossoms.
How does he do this?
What happens inside these dry, dirty, odd-looking bulbs that causes them to grow up and out of the soil, radiating beauty and fragrance? And how did he make my brain to appreciate the scents and sights and comforts of brilliant hyacinths blooming in the warm sun?
New life was also his idea.
His idea that we could be born again. His idea that all the wrong we’ve done, the hurtful things we’ve thought and said, and the selfish choices we have made could be redeemed.
His idea that we could start over with him.
When do we ever get to do that? Start over completely? As human beings, we try to forgive and even forget, but things from the past lodge firmly in our hearts and minds. We hold things against each other and against ourselves–judging unfairly and restricting freedom.
But God takes our dry, dirty, odd-looking souls and plants us in his nourishing, grace-filled soil. Somewhere in the deepest, darkest places, he does his creation miracle, part two.
He makes us brand new.
The hyacinths that spark the hope and joy of the coming spring were created by God for a beautiful purpose. And so were we. God’s idea for us is to embrace this new life filled with glorious calling and promise. We are not limited by what we have or have not done, by what we think we can or cannot do. He will be faithful to prepare and purify us for his holy work–and to accomplish the wonderful ideas he has for us. We can trust him to nurture us with righteousness and love as we begin to bloom and bring joy.
INVITE HIM IN
Thank God for every one of his ideas. Thank him for creating life and especially for creating new life. Ask him to show you how free and forgiven you are, and to grow you into your holy purpose day by day.