LightGrams
April 25, 2019
Volume 23, Number 16
Earlier this week I introduced my two youngest grandsons to a new (for them) tradition: looking for four-leaf clovers. Their yard has a healthy stand of clover mixed in with grass, and we were able to find a couple within just a few minutes of looking.
According to old legends, finding a four-leaf clover brings good luck. If that legend has any basis in fact, Fred Reissman of Mooresville, North Carolina just found himself a truckload of good luck. He recently secured a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records by finding 228 four-leaf clovers in 1 hour and 50 minutes. Did his age give him an advantage? In 2018 a ten-year-old set the record for finds in one hour – 166 clovers!
Both those feats are astonishing to me. Wikipedia states that “an actual survey of over 5 million clovers” found the frequency of four-leaf clovers to the more common three-leaf specimens to be about 1 to 5,000. (Did they have volunteers count clovers in order to establish that finding?!) That said, I feel pretty proud of having found two.
Does finding a four-leaf clover bring good luck? Is it more effective than carrying a rabbit’s foot in your pocket? No studies have proven either of these methods, but let me point you to a more proven method of bringing blessings into your life.
Psalm 23 is without a doubt the most familiar psalm of all. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” introduces us to a lifestyle of provision and protection. Not all respond so agreeably to the Lord, of course, but those who do will find a table prepared for them, and cups running over with abundant blessings (Psalm 23:1-5).
The last verse of Psalm 23 is my favorite: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6). Can you imagine luck better than that? And this is not even “luck” – it’s a promise.
Earthly circumstances may sometimes suggests that the Christian is not blessed. They are sometimes poor, afflicted with disease, persecuted. Have these Christians not received what God has promised?
Jesus responds: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. … Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3-4,10). Don’t be fooled by temporary conditions. In the end those who follow Christ will be blessed beyond the “luckiest” people.
You don’t have to find a four-leaf clover to be blessed. You just need to find Christ.
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2019, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “Tim@GraceMine.org” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
Permission to reproduce and/or use the messages for noncommercial purposes is freely granted provided the messages are not altered.