Growing Without Willing
The sermon encourages believers to grow spiritually by trusting God and embracing simplicity, as exemplified by nature.
Mary Wilder Tileston, through the words of John Pulsford, reflects on the profound lessons we can learn from observing God's creation, particularly the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. The sermon emphasizes the simplicity and trust displayed by these creatures in God's care and provision, contrasting it with the burdens and worries we often carry. By encouraging us to 'consider the lilies,' the message calls for a deeper trust and surrender to God's ways, reminding us of His love and care for all His creation.
Text
Behold the fowls of the air ... consider the lilies of the field.
MATTHEW 6:26,28
WAS in the act of kneeling down before the Lord my God, when a little bird came and perched near my window, and thus preached to me: "O thou grave man, look on me, and learn something, if not the deepest lesson, then a true one. Thy God made me, and the like of me; and, if thou canst conceive it, loves me and cares for me. Thou studiest Him in great problems, which oppress and confound thee: thou losest sight of one half of His ways. Learn to see thy God not in great mysteries only, but in me also. His burden on me is light, His yoke on me is easy; but thou makest burdens and yokes for thyself which are very grievous to be borne. Things deep as Hell and high as Heaven thou considerest overmuch; but thou dost not 'consider the lilies' sufficiently. lf thou couldst be as a lily before God, for at least one hour in the twenty-four, it would do thee good: I mean, if thou couldst cease to will and to think, and be only. Con-sider, the lily is as really from God as thou art, and is a figure of something in Him--the like of which should also be in thee. Thou longest to grow, but the lily grows without longing; yes, without even thinking or willing, grows and is beautiful both to God and man."
JOHN PULSFORD
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Understanding God's care for creation - The lesson from the birds and lilies - The simplicity of nature's growth
- II points: - The burdens we create for ourselves - The importance of letting go - Finding peace in God's design
- III points: - The call to be present and still - Embracing simplicity in faith - Growing spiritually without striving
- IV points: - The significance of being like the lily - Trusting God's timing - Living in the moment
Key Quotes
“Thy God made me, and the like of me; and, if thou canst conceive it, loves me and cares for me.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“If thou couldst be as a lily before God, for at least one hour in the twenty-four, it would do thee good.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“The lily grows without longing; yes, without even thinking or willing, grows and is beautiful both to God and man.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- Take time each day to be still and reflect on God's creation.
- Practice letting go of worries and burdens that hinder your spiritual growth.
- Embrace the beauty of simplicity in your faith journey.