Day 327: Ezekiel 27-28; James 4

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you." (James 4:10, CSB)

Let's pick up the conversation about the marigolds. So, I decided to do a little research. This morning I shared this with the students at the school where Rondalyn teaches. With a small bouquet of marigolds, fifteen in all, I made this discovery. The seeds are in the flowers. When the flower dies and dries out, the seeds disperse. A marigold can have 35 seeds in one flower. In fifteen, I potentially had 525 seeds. If they all produced plants, each plant would have 50 flowers on average. In a year's time, from 15 flowers, 26,250 flowers could bloom. Small deeds surrendered to God and for His glory bear great results! It is not only the blooming that is beautiful, but in the dying, much more beauty is produced. This makes me think of John 12:24-26. When we die to self and live for Jesus, we truly bear fruit that lasts. When we surrender to God, draw near to Him, and humble ourselves, then our living and dying have results beyond our own ability. So the lesson is to abide in Jesus. Abiding in Him we bear much fruit. This brings God glory and is so satisfying to the surrendered soul.