A few months ago the ground had a pretty layer of snow covering it, preserved by the cold temperatures. Then it started to get warmer. And as the sun shone on the freezing ground, the snow started to melt, exposing the ugly, lifeless grass. You could almost sense how shameful the dead grass felt. Longing to be covered; disgusted that you could see what it really looked like under the pristine mask provided by the snow.
It hurt to see the ground so weak and dead.
As time passed, the grass was starting to get a little greener. And with the new life, a new attitude of joy emerged in my life.
As I reflected on the life cycle of grass, I was confronted with the thought that maybe the grass didn’t want to be exposed from under the snow because it knew that people would look at it differently and not enjoy laying down or playing on it like they did during the summer.
But all the grass needed to grow and thrive was nutrition from the sun and encouragement from the soil.
Only because the grass was exposed, and the dead patches were made visible could the sun restore it to an even greater glory than the mask snow provided.
The grass outside my apartment got me thinking about how I sometimes try to cover myself up to hide my weaknesses. I don’t like showing and sharing my mistakes to others because of the fear that they might see me in a negative light. But like the grass, if I don’t uncover the things I feel shameful about then I won’t be able to grow and change. The grass showed me in a new way that only when I let down my walls and take off my mask can the Son (of God) really change me.
The Son of God died on the cross so that we didn’t have to be bound by shame anymore. He died for us to be free.
When we allow the Son to shine on us, only then can we be released from our captivity and insecurity.
“But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”- Ephesians 5:13-14
May the Lord open us up to the reality of His redemption. For when we illuminate weakness in our souls we can become a light for someone else to see that they can be redeemed too.
In what ways can we encourage our brothers and sisters to uncover themselves so that Christ can shine on them?
REDEEM THE TIME 