Discipleship to Jesus Christ does not shut our eyes to the earth, or close our hearts to the material works of God. He who follows Christ will certainly consider the lilies of the field. The tendency of Bible teaching is in the direction of leading us to make much of God's world, and to think but little of man's world. The chief writers take their illustrations and metaphors from the material works of God. So that, in order to despise or even neglect what is called nature, we must separate ourselves from the letter and spirit of biblical teaching. The sun is brighter for being used by the prophets as a symbol of my Saviour. The vine is more graceful since I heard the Great Teacher say, "I am the true vine." The grass is more verdant since Jesus employed it to illustrate the minute and complete providence of God.

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