Hebrews 6:7 … To drink UP the Rain (05/20/17)
“Ground that drinks up the rain falling on it repeatedly and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is cultivated receives a blessing from the Lord.” ~ unknown (Hebrews 6:7)
First and foremost please note the obvious – namely, that it is those who “produce a crop useful to [others]” who receive the blessing from the Lord. Indeed, this is in completely harmony with all of the teachings spoken (and almost all of the actions taken) by Jesus in the Gospels – this is indeed an embodiment of his Way, his Truth, and his Life (i.e. the enlivenment of John 14:6 per his request in John 14:12).
That having been said, note as well that there is another prerequisite for this blessing – namely, to “drink up the rain that falls on it repeatedly.” For the soil in Nature, this metaphor is obvious, but how does it translate to us? How can we “drink up the rain” that continually falls upon us? Well, this is a pretty obvious reference to the Grace of God’s perfect Love (see Matthew 5:45-48, Luke 6:36-37, John 5:22 & 1 John 4:8+18 et al), and yet we are left to wonder what this means for us in practical terms. It seems to be a riddle beyond solving, but not really. For Jesus provides several clues to the same in the Gospels … Consider:
* He provided us a clue when he told us that “the Advocate within” will come upon us and live within us – continually “raining” the Wisdom of Love down upon our Hearts (see John 14:20-26 & John 15:26, along with John 14:4 – “You know the way to the place I am going”) …
*And he provided us a clue when he mentioned that our sole Purpose here was to Love our enemies (Luke 6:27:36) and to serve the downtrodden (Matthew 25:35-40) …
*And he provided us a clue when he told his followers repeatedly “if you pray for anything in my name, it will be done for you” (see John 14:13-14, John 15:7, John 15:16, John 16:23-24, Matthew 21:22, Luke 11:9 et al). For to pray “in his name” is to pray for the opportunity to powerfully serve others – an opportunity that is indeed ever present; that is indeed “falling upon us repeatedly” … And indeed the greatest Treasure available to us is to recognize those opportunities and Love courageously in the moments when we recognize them (“For where your Treasure is, there your Heart is also” ~ Matthew 6:21 & Luke 12:34 – see also Matthew 24:42’s “Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming”).
And what is the “Blessing” that will be received? Will it be a reward of eternal life in “heaven above” as Paul believed and preached? No, of course not … For Jesus made it repeatedly clear that his “blessing” was an experience of pure Bliss – the perfect mixture of Joy & Peace; the Here&Now state of being he called “the Kingdom of God” (Luke 17:20-21); the state of being available to each & every one of us who honor the “rains that repeatedly fall” by Loving others with humility and with courage (see Matthew 18:3-4 & John 13:15-17 et al).
Amen … Let it be so!
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