I did some research recently and discovered most roses have thorns!!! Who would’ve known!! Lol. That was me being dramatic but seriously, the newsflash is roses have thorns. Well, with the exception of the very few species called the ‘Thornless Roses’ fam 😒, which have thorns by the way, but only on their old stems.
I’m sure you can decipher my analogy dear YMC (young millenial Christian). Roses have thorns to protect them from predators. #those who have roses had to get past painful prickly thorns! #beauty is pain.
Yeah that’s my main point. However, i did wonder how those thorns affect the roses themselves??. I’m sure being such a beauty in the flower kingdom, one would think they wouldn’t have to feel so restricted.
But they are!, because, these thorns in their bid to protect them, inhibit the freedom of the roses to explore… breathe…smell the other roses (pun intended). That must suck for our beautiful roses… feeling restricted by things supposed to protect you.
Doesn’t that remind you a bit of your walk dear YMC? When the measures God puts in place via your parents, friends and spiritual authority to protect you, feel like claustrophobic triggers. It never seems to be in our best interest_ ‘the instructions of love’ we receive. Mostly, they trigger all sorts of questions such as;
’why can’t i do this totally innocent activity?’
‘Where in the bible does it say this is wrong?’
‘How far is too far’?
‘This is a different dispensation, the one called Grace so enough with all your laws!!’
(Lol, the last one was more of a statement, but you get the drift)
Let’s face it, the bible is clear on certain issues. Blatantly wrong, it states categorically, on issues like murder, sexual sins, theft, idolatry among others.
But there are a lot of grey/gray areas now in our lives;
- job opportunities
- Friendships
- Talents and giftings
- Relationships
- Philanthropy (to give publicly or anonymously)
- Fashion
- To drink wine or not
The list is endless. I believe, where there are no clearly stated laws, there is a lot of room for humanity to explore the boundaries of freedom, of right and wrong.
That’s where the thorns come in to play. For every Christian, even as God knew you before you were born Psalm 139:16, I believe He places you in a community for growth; your family, church, whatever institution He desires.
In these environments, God places thorns to protect you from yourself. Freedom is as much freeing as it is damaging. And these thorns are there to protect you from outward and hidden dangers.
1 Corinthians 10:23
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
Dear YMC, who is a current thorn of protection in your life who feels like a thorn of suffocation??
What exactly is the thorn suffocating? Freedom or sin?
Are you taking advantage of the time behind the thorns to draw as much nutrient from God as you can, so you can blossom when it’s time??
Or you’re just counting the hours to get out of their control and grip??
Dear YMC, it’s tough out there for us roses. And God in His wisdom is taking His time to groom us for the world, this generation and the next. So stay. Stay right where God wants you to be. Thornless or not, you’re His precious beauty.
…. but seriously though, stay and get deeply rooted. That’s the only way to remain alive in the faith.
1 Cor 15:1-2
And now I want to remind you, my brothers and sisters, of the Good News which I preached to you, which you received, and on which your faith stands firm. That is the gospel, the message that I preached to you. You are saved by the gospel if you hold firmly to it – unless it was for nothing that you believed.
Hold firmly to the roots as you remained thorned, for a time will come, when the thorns will fall off.
I hope you’ll be ready then, .. full of power and glory.
~ sheyla ~