Scotty Smith
A Prayer About Church as a Gospel Garden
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings." Isaiah 58:9-12
Heavenly Father, you seem to have a reoccurring penchant for gardens. Our first home was the garden paradise of Eden and our future home, the new heaven and new earth, sounds like it's going to be the Garden of Eden on steroids (Rev 21:1-22:6).
It shouldn't surprise us, then, that you'd choose the image of a garden to describe our shared life as your redeemed people. The more we're alive to the life-giving resources of the gospel the more we'll become like well-watered gardens… gospel-gardens. You plant us in broken cities to bring your beauty and share your bounty… for a garden doesn't exist for its own benefit, but for the benefit of others.
Lord, forgive us, when we turn our churches into private orchards or gated estates. You've called us to love and to serve, the least and the lost… to care for the poor, the oppressed and the hungry in our communities. To love them well, is to love you well.
Forgive us and help us, when pointing fingers and malicious talk are more pronounced than washing each other's feet and preaching the gospel to one another. We get sidetracked from our main calling way too easily. Humble us, gentle us, refocus us.
Jesus, you are the true seed that was sown that death itself would die. You are the firstfruits of a whole new people and world. You are the true vine in whom we abide, that lush and lasting fruit might come forth to our Father's glory. You give us the living water that turns our sun-scorched hearts into fertile fields of beauty and praise.
Jesus, you are the ultimate "rebuilder of ancient ruins," "Repairer of Broken Walls" and the "Restorer of Streets with Dwellings." Continue your gospel-gardening work in us and through us, until the Day you return to finish making all things new. So very Amen, I pray, in your bountiful and beautiful name.
