Jump Start # 4140

Philippians 4:22 “All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.”

We continue our countdown series, looking at the final ten sermons I preached at Charlestown Road.

# 6 Bloom where you are planted

In the Lord’s parable of the sower, some of the seed was eaten by birds (Mt 13:4). Sometimes birds drop the seed. Other times the wind blows the seed. And that tiny seed ends up in the most unusual places. Given enough soil and sunlight, that little seed blooms. It blooms where it was planted. Throughout the hilly Ohio Valley, one sees trees growing out of rocky ledges along the highway. No one purposely planted a tree there. It happened that a seed landed there and it bloomed where it was planted.

Spiritually there is a valuable lesson in learning to “Bloom where you are Planted.” Life doesn’t always turn out like we had planned. Our Plan A is often not God’s Plan A for us. And, when things are not the way we intended, some become bitter, miserable and spend their life living “what might have been,” rather than blooming where they are planted.

The seed never gets to choose where it lands. Its choice is whether it will grow.

Joseph didn’t plan to be sold into slavery. Moses didn’t plan to spend forty years of his life in Midian. David didn’t plan to hide in a cave.

Our verse today mentions the “household of Caesar.” Within the palace of the most powerful man on earth was New Testament disciples. Was this servants? Was this some of the immediate family? Was it distant relatives? Somehow the seed of God’s word got into that palace and it Bloomed where it was planted.

There are some wonderful lessons for us to learn from this:

First, there are always things that you can do. We often look at what we cannot do. We are quick with that list. “Well, I can’t preach,” someone declares proudly. Maybe not. But you can encourage that preacher. You can support that preacher. You can bring friends to come hear that preacher.

For Paul, while in a Roman prison, he was limited. There were things he could not do. He wasn’t free to travel as he once had. He didn’t have a congregation to preach to. Yet, he found ways to bloom where he was planted.

Second, you are here for a  reason. God has made you the way you are and put you in this generation for a specific reason (Acts 17:26). God doesn’t make mistakes about time, gender or talents. So, why this family? Why this congregation? Why this stage of life? Why this health challenge? We so often are looking for answers, when God is looking for faithfulness and productivity.

When young David brought lunch for his brothers on the front lines of battle, he never realized by the end of the day he would have killed a giant. David was ready for opportunities. Had he left his sling shot at home, the story would have been different. David was ready. The opportunity to serve, light shine, help others may come very suddenly and unexpectedly for you. It is those who see the opportunity and are ready that make a difference. David bloomed where he was planted.

Third, God is counting on you. If not you, then who? Esther found herself in a position to make a difference. It was challenging. She bloomed where she was planted. Many of the greatest Christians never preached a sermon, led a congregation or stood before a crowd. Yet, they became the backbone of a congregation. They prayed. They encouraged. They visited. They invited. They welcomed. They gave a cup of cold water and Heaven noticed (Mt 10:42).

Send your roots deep into Christ. Reach upward toward Heaven. Bear fruit where you are. Bloom where you are planted. Make a difference in your family. Make a difference at school or on the job. Make a difference in the congregation.

Bloom where you are planted.

Roger