Mary, Mary…How do You Make Your Garden Grow…?

“Mary, Mary quite contrary

“How does your garden grow?

“With silver bells, and cockle shells

“And pretty maids all in a row.”

This ancient nursery rhyme is disputed as to its origins.  Many believe it is a question asked of Queen Mary I of Scotland.  This, according to some, is a nursery rhyme regarding how Mary would help her kingdom to grow in the midst of her often married, childless and dysfunctional reign.

But, what if the rhyme were changed to be questions asked of the church?  What if it were to say…

“Christian, Christian quite converted

“How does the Garden of Christ grow…?”

I know, it may sound a little strange.  But, in 1Corinthians Paul refers to the church as God’s field or garden.  How does the church really grow and flourish?  How does any local church – or the church universal – grow to God’s glory?    How does its growth take place? 

Consider this quote from the great Charles Spurgeon:

“…let me beg you to remember that Jesus Christ is still alive.  Simple as that truth is, you need to be reminded of it.  We very often estimate the power of the church by looking to her ministers, her ordinances, and her members.  However, the power of the church does not lie there; it lies in the Holy Spirit and in an ever living Savior.  Jesus Christ died, that is true, but He lives again, and we may come to Him today just as that anxious father did in the days when our Lord was on earth.  It is said that miracles have ceased.  Natural miracles may have, but spiritual miracles have not.  We do not have the power to work either kind.  Christ has the power to work any kind of miracle, and His is still willing and able to work spiritual miracles in the midst of His church.   I delight to think of my Lord as a living Christ with whom I can speak and discuss every situation that occurs in my ministry, a living Helper to whom I may bring every difficulty that occurs in my own soul and in the souls of others.  Do not think that He is dead and buried!  Do not seek Him among the dead!  Jesus lives and is as able to deal with these cases of distress and sorrow as when He was here below.”

So then…the question:  Christian,Christian how does your church grow?

The answer:  I have no power to make it grow, but the living, resurrected Jesus Christ can – and will - do it through His people.  If we want a church to grow, it will happen by the living power of Christ!