But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says, “I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.” And Isaiah boldly says, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.” But concerning Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”

I had a pretty amazing experience in college while I was living in Clear Lake, Washington, just outside of Mt. Vernon. There was a lot of buzz about the Tulip Fields, and I had pretty much ignored it for the past few years. I finally took a lady friend out there and was absolutely floored in amazement. I had seen tulips before, sure, and they are a cool flower. But the incredibly vivid color of a whole field of tulips — it absolutely overwhelmed me in its power. Some of the tulips were white with red tips. When you looked out in the field it turned to a bold pink color. For so long I took the approach of the typical guy, I am not going to get too excited about flowers. Flowers are for girls. But now I have changed my mind about a field of tulips. It is quite amazing!

Just like a tulip needs water and sunshine to develop into its powerful color, so, too, we need: God’s word, prayer, fellowship, eating together, and joint service and sharing (with others of the gifts God has given us), to develop into the spiritual powerhouses God has designed for us to become (Acts 2:42-47). Here we find Paul referencing the many who did not want to invest the time and energy or to sacrifice the worldly things or wants they had to become God’s children. The Israelites had this chance over and over again, and few of them took the challenge to get to know God’s heart. So the gospel went out to the rest of the world. The Truth went out to those who did not grow up in it. And when we as Christians come together as one, it is like the multiplied effect of millions of tulips being viewed together. Our spiritual color and power is so strong this world will stop to take notice. They will see that God is doing something so amazing and good — SO MUCH GREATER than what we see in this world. The quote above in Romans is from Psalm 19. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalms‬ ‭19:1-4a) Just like the heavens, the united church of Jesus Christ can declare his glory in such a powerful, colorful way, it will be mind-blowing to those on the outside looking in.

Lord, may you take my faith and grow it deep. May my spiritual color be bold and overpowering like that of a tulip’s. May your maturing process in me allow me to reflect your glory, together with my brothers and sisters in Christ, in incredibly powerful and vivid ways! You are able to take this broken man and make me shine! May we represent a small picture of the joy and glory that is available to the souls of this world through your son, Jesus Christ!