How Do We Know | Feb. 9th

  “When it is evening, you say,’ It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning.’It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.”

  Matthew 16:2-3

Rhododendrons are lovely evergreen plants that brighten up yards. They keep their leaves year-round. We have a mature rhododendron outside our kitchen window, and in summer, it blooms with beautiful white flowers. One interesting thing about these plants is how their leaves react to the weather. When it gets cold, the leaves curl up. The colder it is, the tighter they curl. Just by looking at the rhododendron, you can get a sense of how chilly it is outside.

  Jesus addressed those in His day who could discern the weather in a similar way but could not discern the significance of what He was doing in their midst and how it revealed that He was the Son of God.

 Beloved, what God is doing and what He wants for us can be just as clear. If we can guess the temperature by looking at a plant, then we can also recognize God’s plan for us, which matters even more.

  At times, we may overlook the importance of daily scripture reading, church attendance, or prayer, all of which reveal God’s character and His purposes for us. Some individuals focus on interpreting the signs of the times as attempts to unravel end-time mysteries, rather than emphasizing the fundamental call to bear the fruit of the Spirit. Which pursuit holds greater significance?

  In short, if we can look at a plant and tell the weather, we can also look into God’s word and get to know Him as the Holy Spirit guides us. The Holy Spirit lives in every believer and helps us live for God.

In Christ Alone.

Pastor Wight