Listen to the Lord in Lilies (Shelley S. Cramm)

Mar 22

Mar 22 Listen to the Lord in Lilies (Shelley S. Cramm)

Easter lilies are filling up florists and grocers’ floral departments, in anticipation of the glorious celebration ahead! May we take their trumpet shape as a megaphone to our hearts: Listen! Listen to the still, steadfast voice, the Lord’s leading us in his blessing and direction:

“Are you listening, dear people?
Psalm 50:7 The Message

Just then a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and from deep in the cloud, a voice: “This is my Son, marked by my love. Listen to him.”
Mark 9:7 The Message

The beautiful holiday flowers will fade, but we have His Words forever—the sounding and promise of “flowers of the field.” (Isaiah 40:6-8)

Lilies in the Bible
When it comes to lilies in the Bible, there is a bit of botanical bewilderment, for those of us prone to decipher details, that is! The original English translation of Jesus’ candid words on worryoffered “krinon” as lilies, though most Biblical botanists agree that the grassy fields from which his words were spoken are filled with lily-like flowers, those returning from bulbs or tubers after a dormant period, and not actual lilies. Instead, general consensus credits the crown anemone as the blooming scenery of his straightforward talk.

Lilies for Your Garden
However, there is a lily native to Israel’s woodlands, the Madonna lily, Lilium candidum, and this species is sold commercially. Mine are on their way from Brent & Becky’s Bulbs! They are similar in appearance to the classic Easter lily, but bloom a little later than Easter and Passover celebrations, into the summer. Their trumpeted, white flowers form clusters on tallish, 3 foot stems, and I plan to plant them just along shadows edge of our shade garden to shelter them from the full, blazing sun of our climate. Height-wise, they make a good visual transition from perennial border to evergreen hedge.

Listen to His Words
Floral conundrums notwithstanding, the point here is that we plant flowers in our gardens and likewise, we can plant the Words of the Lord in our hearts and souls. His voice remains ready to speak to each of us. May “considering the lilies” lead to our listening, and flourish our faith in His Words.

He wants you to listen to him! Plain listening is the thing, not staging a lavish religious production.
1 Samuel 15:22 The Message

Pay attention, come close now, listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words.
Isaiah 55:3 The Message

She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.
Luke 10:39 NIV

After all this, God tested Abraham. God said, “Abraham!” “Yes?” answered Abraham. “I’m listening.”
Genesis 22:1 The Message

Listen, everyone, listen— earth-dwellers, don’t miss this. All you haves and have-nots, All together now: listen.
Psalm 49:1-2 The Message

And the sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd.
John 10:3 ERV

Listen obediently, Israel. Do what you’re told so that you’ll have a good life, a life of abundance and bounty, just as God promised, in a land abounding in milk and honey.
Deuteronomy 6:3 The Message