Isaiah 61:11 So Shall We Bloom
“For as the earth brings forth its bud, as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord will cause righteousness and praise spring forth before all the nations” (NKJV).
This spiny cactus brings forth brightly colored beautiful flowers, and they are what get noticed the most, the flowers, as they should. Are not pretty flowers more interesting and enjoyable to view than the spiny stems on which they grow? We are the plants that grow in His garden, and no matter how spiny and difficult our times past, the brighter shines the righteousness and praise that spring forth from us. Righteousness is shown by the quality of the lives we live, the kindness, the caring, and the love of God we express. The praise that springs forth from our voices as we grow and grow closer to Him becomes more beautiful each day.
Yes, as the earth brings forth beauty in the flowers that it grows, so do we bring forth righteousness and praise for our Lord. He has filled us with His Holy Spirit, and as we let the Holy Spirit work in our lives, the more attractive we become and the more attractive the call of Jesus Christ. To fulfill the desires of God for our lives we must let Him shine through so much that the spiny hurtful parts of our past are greatly overshadowed by His glory showing through us.