Bolt to His Presence in Your Time of Need
Bolting is a term that gardeners use when a plant goes to seed prematurely. It can be a frustrating occurance to a gardener. When temperature, length of days and humidity are at a high, plants that are lacking in proper nutrients or ground cover release hormones that direct them to rapidly change from producing leaves to producing seeds to ensure that they have offspring.
When a plant bolts it sends up vertical shoots that are stronger and more fibrous in order to produce the flowers that, once pollinated will yield viable seeds that will carry on the DNA of the plant to future generations.
Like a bolting plant, a Christian under trials,temptation or persecution must direct their attention vertically in order to produce seeds in their lives that they can sow in the lives of future generations. Like the plant that perseveres through the heat of the struggle, so is the Christian that keeps his or her eye on the end result of their struggle.
James puts it simply:
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
As the plant shifts its plan for its life into a concerted effort to produce a strong rigid vertical shoot that will bloom and produce seed, the Christian must recognize this upside down principle of the kingdom that takes things that were meant to destroy us and use those very things to produce a steadfastness in our lives that leads to the completing of our faith.
Do we like the heat, humidity and persecution? No, but we look to God's word to gain strength in our time of need. We remember what I Corinthians 10:13 states:
Let us also be mindful to help others who are suffering and never forget our brothers and sister in Christ who endure great suffering and persecution for the cause of Christ. Their reward is great!
When a plant bolts it sends up vertical shoots that are stronger and more fibrous in order to produce the flowers that, once pollinated will yield viable seeds that will carry on the DNA of the plant to future generations.Like a bolting plant, a Christian under trials,temptation or persecution must direct their attention vertically in order to produce seeds in their lives that they can sow in the lives of future generations. Like the plant that perseveres through the heat of the struggle, so is the Christian that keeps his or her eye on the end result of their struggle.
James puts it simply:
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
As the plant shifts its plan for its life into a concerted effort to produce a strong rigid vertical shoot that will bloom and produce seed, the Christian must recognize this upside down principle of the kingdom that takes things that were meant to destroy us and use those very things to produce a steadfastness in our lives that leads to the completing of our faith.
Do we like the heat, humidity and persecution? No, but we look to God's word to gain strength in our time of need. We remember what I Corinthians 10:13 states:
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will provide a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
We take comfort in knowing that God is faithful and sees our struggle. He allows it so that we will draw near to Him and will provide a way of escape because His intention for our lives is that we are not overtaken by the struggle but that we grow and push through it, seeking after Him and come out having endured it and grown stronger and more faithful as a result.
The author of Hebrews has some encouragement for us:
Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever. So, do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you receive all that he has promised.
We must keep our eyes on the reward that we will receive that He has promised!
Let us take comfort and hold firmly to what we profess because in fact, we have a great High Priest who can sympathize with our weakness and struggled in the very same ways that we struggle yet he remained faithful. He bolted to the Father!
This is the same man, Christ Jesus, who mysteriously lives inside of each of His followers. So let's bolt to Him, let's fix our purpose on allowing our struggles to produce a strong stance toward producing endurance and perseverance to run or "bolt" to the finish line not bolt from the problems!
Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.
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