I found this Iris in my flower bed a few days ago. It is a beautiful gift from my father in Heaven. He must love me! I like to analyze things sometimes and I thought it was interesting how the old iris blooms die. The change happens rather quickly. Upon this realization I was reminded of a scripture: Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). If you do not know already the “he” in this scripture can also mean she. I just like to use the New King James Version for this scripture because it points out how old things pass away.
I believe the old things that pass away are based on selfishness. These old things may include fleshly desires. Second Corinthians 15 tells us:
“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”
I believe the greatest way to live for Jesus is to obey his greatest command, which is to love God (Matthew 22: 37-38). We are to love God because he first loved us (1 John 4:19). When we focus on Jesus and accept his love we begin to love others. First John 4:11 tells us that we should love one another because God loved us so much that he sent his son to die for our us.
There is no greater love than to lay your life down for another (John 15:13). This is what Jesus did for us. He was beaten to the point of unrecognition (Isaiah 52:14). This may be a littler heavier than just talking about cute irises but it is the truth, and it is love. He denied his flesh out of love, and I believe we should be willing to do the same. When we let the selfishness in us die and focus on God’s plans and what he wants for our lives, we will experience his love and blessings in greater measure.
It is our nature to desire the good things God has for us. God wants us to have a great life. Jesus said that he came so that we may have life, and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). But first we are to deny our flesh. We are to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things (desires) will be added to us (Matthew 6:33). Just as the Irises bloomed beautiful flowers, through God’s love, including our love to others, our beautiful gifts will bloom.
If you would like to receive more of God’s love and gifts in your life please say this prayer: Father God I thank you for sending your son Jesus to die on the cross for me. Holy Spirit I welcome you to come into my heart and into my life, so that I can receive and show your love. Thank you for saving me and I look forward to experiencing more of your blessings.
Biblical Choices 