CONSIDER THE LILIES

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 2, 1900

CONSIDER THE LILIES.

The King's Messenger.

“CONSIDER the lilies of the field, how they grow,” the Master said one day while talking to those dear disciples of his. And I believe the Spirit is just longing to speak the same to us to-day, but with an added illumination and inspiration, which would enable us to “consider,” and then grow like the lilies. We do make such a foolish waste of time trying to grow in spiritual things.

You must grow up into him in all things, as the branch grows on the vine, or as the lilies grow. How do they grow?—Oh, I don’t know. I never saw the process. I do not understand the philosophy of adding joint to joint in the stalk, and cell to cell in the leaves and flowers, until the plant is full grown, with perfect leaves and gloriously tinted petals. And yet I can see that the lily grows easily, and without effort to itself. It did not choose the soil nor plant itself. Neither did I. He chose me, and planted me in his vineyard. It is mine to stay where he puts me, to drink in the rain and dew, to bathe in the glad, warm sunshine, to sway to and fro in the gentle breeze, or bow low, if need be, in the storm. But it is his to see that I grow. I simply let him build me up and cause me to grow by whatever method he may choose.

I have nothing to do with growth. I have to trust and obey. If I look after the growing, I’ll make myself one-sided. I’ll bend all my energies to build great faith, or to be very humble, or to fill myself with the Word; for I can do but one thing at a time. So I get large on one side, and do not realize how unfitted I am for him.

I stand where he puts me, I receive what he gives me; and as I am occupied to know him better, I find that faith and love and humility and all graces grow—spring up spontaneously. Joint is added to joint and cell to cell in my experience; my strength increases because I am so helpless; and as I keep my face turned always toward him through shine and shade, he tints and colors with his own artistic hand until his own beauty he has put upon me.

He builds me all around—not all at once, to be sure: but his eye is on every part of my character, and he will neglect no part. He will give to me something of his symmetry of character, until I shall cease to be noted for any one grace. I will just bear an astounding likeness to him, that is all. I shall not be so conscious of growing, as conscious of a delightful oneness with him in all things.