I was wandering through the woods – with the dog of course – wondering what to write for Chipperfield News! – somewhat frustrated as I had been thinking about it on and off all day…nothing seemed to be quite right…I noticed several times sweet chestnuts lying on the ground, picked one up and of course pricked myself…. and checked once again what I remember discovering many years ago.

The outside of the sweet chestnut shell is very prickly… but inside it is velvet smooth: if you are fortunate enough to find one opening up with the nuts still inside, you will notice that there are always three, joined at the top by what looks like a tiny crown – which if you look carefully is discernable on the outside of an unopened shell.

The thing that struck me all those years ago was that here in this nut was a picture of God. The prickles on the outside speak of the holiness and moral purity of God, something we don’t like to face – perhaps one of the reasons some don’t believe in God is that acknowledging His existence means having to face up to what God is like! Morally pure, and One before whom we are responsible! But inside the shell is this lovely velvet – which speaks to me of His amazing love, which reassures and strengthens….and He really loves even me! …something so many find hard to grasp, but I can really touch the velvet as well as the prickles!… and the nuts – three of course, joined at the top with a crown! God’s absolute Lordship illustrated along with the truth that God is “Three-in-One”, relationship being at His very heart. What a picture of the Personal God, who is both amazing love and absolute purity, who opens himself up to so we might become one with Him!

Supremely God has spoken to us in the person of Jesus: He speaks to us too through the words of scripture, carefully handled, and He has left all sorts of helpful illustrations in the wonders of His Creation in which we draw our breath. Whether we hear Him and respond, discovering His touch upon our lives, depends however on how open our ears are to His voice, and our wills to His way of thinking!

Very best wishes, Jim Stevens