Dress and Keep part 1
We are God's garden. He is the Gardener. We can only do what He first does in us, and through us, and as us. That's what it means to rest--rest is not inactivity, it is Holy Spirit directed activity. So when we see the first "command" that God ever set down for us, Genesis 2:15, "And the LORD God took the man, and put him in the garden of Eden to dress it and keep it," what we see is His greatest wish for us. Right off the bat. I always talk about how the cry of God's heart was for Him to be our God and for us to be His people. That's all He ever wanted. That, in fact, is why He created us. God is love. But in order to love, you have to give--love IS giving--and in order to give you have to have something (or someone) to give to. And, listen, even from the beginning God could fulfill that in and of Himself. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Father has always loved the Son. That's what it means to truly be a father. What God wanted was to manifest Himself... more. To express Himself... more. To give that love, the life, that Spirit, that light, more. So He created us. So that He could love us. And so that we could love each other by loving Him back. So that His love could manifest to us, and in us, and through us, and as us. God put us in the garden of Eden--a finished work--and He made US a garden. We were tasked to dress and keep the garden. But we didn't have to create it, or produce it. God did that part. He is the vine. We are simply the branches that bear, or carry, or make available, the fruit that the vine produces. And while we bear it, we also taste it. Look at Psalm 34:8, "O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." When we trust in Him we understand and experience His goodness. It is the goodness of God that leads man to repentance. Not the fear of God. Not doing something because you're afraid that you will get into trouble is not the true heart change that comes from knowing and believing that God is love and He loves you. God is not in the punishing business. Which is not to say that He won't chasten and correct you. Of course He will. What good parent wouldn't? What it means is simply that God is not in the punishing business. He's not out to get you. The cry of His heart was that He wanted you. He wanted relationship with you. He wanted to be our God and He wanted us to be His people. And then, on the cross, He got us. Jesus was lifted up from the earth and drew all men into Himself. Jesus planted Himself in all men. That incorruptible seed that is love. Where there is light, there can be no darkness at all. When God (love) arises, His enemies are scattered. So we don't need to fear HIM. HE is our safe place. Our refuge. And, again, as we dress and keep our own garden, we need to understand that there IS pruning involved. Maturity is a process. Learning and growing. Trying things on, seeing if they fit. And if they don't... we can simply discard them. Shrug our shoulders and move on. You don't have to cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time and effort making it. God allows U-turns. In fact, I believe He encourages them. If you feel like you're stuck in a rut--which is just a grave with the ends kicked out--maybe you need to get the clippers out. Get rid of some of those dead branches that aren't bearing any fruit. Throw those bad boys in the fire (that is love) and burn, baby, burn! When I was a child I spoke and acted like one. But when I grew up I put away childish things. Once you get rid of the dead weight you can be lean and mean. You can be focused on what really matters. Which, again, is love. God and people. Loving God and loving people. Loving God BY loving people!