Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. (Jam 1:21 NIV)

The word is planted by faithful parents or teachers or pastors. If the soul takes it in like the soil of a well prepared bedding, takes up a plant then this word grows and flourishes to become a strong and spread out tree of righteousness and life. However if this heavenly plant has to compete with such weeds as anger, filth and evil, then it is likely to be overwhelmed and smothered and the soul that was to be saved by it is lost. That can even happen to those, who have been saved and reborn by God’s word and holy Baptism. Even those reborn need to bear God’s word in them as a plant. They need to nurture it and care for it or it will die of neglect and with it the new life of regeneration. All new life will only remain and truly flourish if God’s word remains in us and unfolds its treasures there in us. If we like the idea of being reborn through the Word of God, then let us also hold the truth dear that God’s word is like a plant in us, that is to be nurtured and looked after caringly, but it can also be neglected, diminished and lost leading to eternal damnation.

Oh Lord Jesus Christ, you divine and heavenly gardener!  Make us good stewards and keepers of your plants, that they will grown in well prepared soil to flourish and bear ample fruit to your honour and glory. Amen.

Help me and bless my spirit with heavenly blessings, that I will flourish for you; grant that the summer of your grace will bring forth faithful fruits in my soul both now and later.

Make space in my soul for your Spirit that I become a good tree which has deep roots and grant that I will remain a lovely flower and fruitful sprout in your garden and to your honour.

Choose me to be in your paradise and let me flourish in body and soul until the final stages, that I may only serve you and your glory here and eternally. (Paul Gerhard 1607-1676)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion and Paul Gerhard’s hymn as chosen for Wednesday after the fourth Sunday after Easter: Cantate. It is found on Pg. 190 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.