Metamorphosis … Prettiness

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Matthew 28:19-20

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” —Mark Twain

Ah, the purpose of the butterfly. If it were merely to make the world a prettier place, as some people think, would that be such a bad thing? In my garden at home I watch the Monarch flutter its delicate wings as it passes on by. I admire the symmetry of its brilliant orange glow in the sunlight. Then too, along the mountain trail a dainty blue butterfly catches my eye amongst the wildflowers—so pretty, up there so high. I ask you, what’s wrong with pretty? Prettiness reflects God’s glory.

But the butterfly does more than look good. It helps pollinate the flowers as it flits from one to another, sipping on their sweet nectar. The more butterflies, the more fruitful are our gardens. And in their short life span of two to four weeks the adult mates, lays eggs and produces a new generation of butterflies.

Imagine that: fruitfulness and reproduction. That is what we are supposed to do as well—bear fruit and reproduce our lives in the lives of others. Jesus’ parting words to the disciples were plain and clear: go and make disciples. The story of Jesus is way too good to keep to yourself. It behooves us to tell others who will tell others also (2 Timothy 2:2). That way the whole world will know.

Jesus loved to talk in terms of fruitfulness. He told His disciples: “I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last” (John 15:16). And this all to God’s glory: “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:8). Bearing fruit produces disciples who bear more fruit and produce more disciples. Reproduction at its best.

Mark Twain was not far off. The day you were born was indeed a good day; the day you were born again an even better day. And the day you figured out your purpose in life had to do with bearing fruit by introducing others to Jesus was the best. Fruitfulness and reproduction embody prettiness, all “to my Father’s glory!”

Nancy P