3 Lessons from the Beautiful Bloom of a Ric Rac Plant

Hope's Ric Rac Plant in Bloom

My wife, Hope, loves plants. She takes care of plants in various types of pots all around our home. Some of the plants are quite pretty. Others are rather plain. Like the ric rac plant that lives and grows in my office. It’s not ugly, but I’ve never thought it was especially pretty either. Sometimes I wondered why Hope continued to take care of it year after year. It never had any flowers. It just keeps slowly growing. Until last night.

A little while ago a closed bloom began to appear on the ric rac plant. I barely noticed it. But then last night when Hope walked into the office, the bloom had suddenly opened into a large, spectacular, beautiful flower. The colorful bloom was 7” across. It turns out that the ric rac plant is also known as a fishbone orchid cactus. Thinking about this beautiful flower inspired a few devotional thoughts.

1.  God’s Work Often takes Place Over Generations

 Someone gave Hope’s aunt a ric rac plant. She took cuttings from that plant and gave them to Hope’s mom. Hope’s mom then gave one of those cuttings, just a few inches tall, to Hope. This reminded me of how God often works over generations. This applies to biological generations where parents invest God’s love and truth into their children, who then pass it on to their children. Much of God’s deep, long term work happens in this way.

NIV 2 Timothy 1:5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

This principle can also apply to what we might call “spiritual generations”. Someone invests spiritually in you. They pray for you, care for you, encourage you, are an example to you, and/or share some of God’s truth with you. Then God can use you to pass on that care, encouragement, example, and truth to others. This is exactly what Paul encouraged Timothy to be doing:

NIV 2 Timothy 2:2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.

Notice how this verse speaks of God’s truth being passed on for four spiritual generations:

Paul → Timothy → Reliable People → Others

When you share God’s love and truth with someone, you never know how far it will go or what fruit it may bear in future spiritual generations.

Most of this work of investing God’s love and truth into others does not look very spectacular while it is happening. Which brings me to the second lesson.

2.  Investing Patiently in Plain Looking People Is Worth It

I thank God for my parents, and all the pastors, Christian teachers, and other Christians who have taken time to invest in my life. I also thank God that He allows me to invest in the lives of other Christians.

Hope’s ric rac plant didn’t look like anything special most of the years she has cared for it.  And most of us are like that. We appear to be just plain, normal people. Nothing spectacular. Yet, God Himself is investing a lot in order to care for us and help us grow. And if we are worth God’s time and care, we are certainly worthy of each other’s care. In fact, we are commanded to love and encourage one another. Paul writes about this:

NIRV Ephesians 4:16 He makes the whole body grow and build itself up in love. Under the control of Christ, each part of the body does its work. It supports the other parts. In that way, the body is joined and held together.

As all of us plain, ordinary people are helping each other grow in Christ, we need to remember that one day we will all, every one of us, blossom into glory.

3.  Every Plain Looking Christian will Blossom with Glorious Beauty when Christ Returns

Even in this life, we see glimpses of God’s glory in each other. But the best is yet to come. Every plain looking Christian brother and sister whom you help in their journey is destined for glory.

NIV Matthew 13:43a Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

There will be many joys and rewards in the presence of Christ when He comes. Among the chief of these will be seeing people whom God enabled us to care for, serve, help, and encourage on their journey in this world.

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

In this world we may seem like ric rac plants. But one day soon we will all bloom with eternal glory.

Hebrews 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others . . .