by Rev Douglas Brauner

God calls us to make a difference.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

Brauner vegetable garden

This picture reminds me of the old Wendy’s commercial, with Clara Peller yelling, “Where’s the beef.” (She was suppose to say, “Where is all the beef.”, but it doesn’t have the same ring, does it?) Only in this case it’s a different “b” word that I’m using, “Where’s the beans?”

I like to grow green beans, especially Blue Lake pole beans. They’re my favorite variety. My mom claimed that Blue Lakes are the best for canning.

Here’s the problem: I have lots of stock and not many beans. As you can tell in this picture, the stocks have grown above my poles and are starting to descend, but I haven’t picked one bean. They look pretty, but that’s not why I planted them.

“This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take a branch from the top of a tall cedar, and I will plant it on the top of Israel’s highest mountain. It will become a majestic cedar, sending forth its branches and producing seed. Birds of every sort will nest in it, finding shelter in the shade of its branches.” 
Ezekiel 17:22 New living Translation

God promises his people that they will return from exile, be planted once again in the land that he had promised to them, and make them fruitful. In fact, people from all nations will find rest in its branches.

The tree had purpose.

We have been baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus. Through this baptismal call we are planted in the world to produce fruit, that others might find rest in the shade of God’s grace. Above everything else in life, that is our purpose. That is our call.

That doesn’t mean we must all be pastors, or professional church workers. It does mean that we fulfill God’s purpose right where the Holy Spirit has planted us.

When people hang out with us may they say, “There’s the beans!”

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado