I Come to the Garden Alone - Part Seven

I Come to the Garden Alone

Part Seven

By Judy Vandiver

 Last week, as I sat in the garden having morning devotions, I read from Luke chapter two.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. (Luke 2:8-9 NIV)

I have always pictured a glow around the angel of the Lord, but these verses said the glory of the Lord shone around the shepherds. I tried to visually picture what that must have looked like. No wonder the shepherds were afraid. Seeing an angel would be frightening enough, but to be bathed in God’s glory, to have that glory actually shine around them, was enough to terrify them.

About that time, my husband snuck outside and snapped a picture of me. Later, when I downloaded the photos on my camera to my computer, a surprise greeted me. It wasn’t the fact that he had taken my picture, but that God had hidden another lesson for me in my garden. The lesson was invisible to me in the garden, but the snapshot had captured another God moment.

A single shaft of pure sunlight shone directly on my Bible. Tears spilled onto my desk as I realized God’s glory had shone upon His word as I sat in my garden. I marveled at the blessings that overflowed from His heart to mine. I thought how when we read the Holy Scriptures, it is only with the illumination of God that we understand them.

Several verses came to my mind.

For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2:6 NIV)

For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. (Psalm 36:9 NIV)

But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."(Ephesians 5:13-14 NIV)

What an amazing God we serve. More times than we realize, He illustrates His truth in nature, in everyday occurrences, and this week, through a snapshot. 

I called for Steve to come see the picture. He, too, was awed by what God showed us in the photograph. He said, “I was afraid that it was too bright out there. I thought the sun might get in the way.”

“No,” I responded, “The Son never gets in the way.”

Personal Study Questions:

1. In what ways has God exposed you to the light of His word?
2. What blessings have you received from God as he directs your daily path?
3. What surprise revelations has God given you through nature?
4. As you read the Bible, ask God to shed light and understanding on His word.
5. Choose one or more of the three scriptures above. Meditate on it, then memorize it.

Copyright 2009 by Judy Vandiver