As I walked towards the front entrance of my theological college and community home, I paused in shock. The final part of the pathway was edged with short, bare clusters of spiky sticks. Used to seeing prolific, beautiful roses in Summer and plenty of growth even in winter, I was stunned! What had happened? “The new gardener,” I gasped. “How could he?” I went in search of the newly retired minister who’d recently volunteered to take care of our gardens. “What’s happened to our beautiful rose bushes?” I protested. He twinkled at me! “Ah, you wait until the Summer,” he encouraged. “They’re going to be magnificent!” “They already were magnificent,” I muttered. “Why did you have to be so drastic?” I was told the bushes hadn’t been pruned for a long time, and drastic measures now would produce amazing results later. But I didn’t believe him.
Yahshua spoke about the benefits of pruning, warning His disciples to expect it when in close contact with Him [John 15:1-8]! He taught that His Father is the Gardener and, therefore, the One implementing the work. It’s the fruit-bearing disciples who receive the most drastic pruning and the Gardener always knows the perfect time for it. Natural pruning is about cutting away damaged, diseased, old wood and straggly growth, whilst taking out stems and branches to improve congestion and balance the plant. Spiritual pruning is similar. Yahweh will remove old habits, cut back the unnecessary ‘stuff’ we accumulate and, sometimes, even take away things which seem good. Have you ever experienced a feeling of being stripped down to a ‘cluster of short, spiky twigs’? It frequently happens just when we think everything is going so well! It can be unnerving, unsettling. We must hold onto our faith, trusting in the One who’s doing the task. He knows what He’s doing!
The summer after the roses were pruned we had a gloriously magnificent display, improved in every way. I learned that drastic measures could bring fabulous results when the one doing the pruning knows his plants! “Pruning isn't punishment,” writes John Hunter, “it is the purposeful application of the gardener's plans.” Yahweh knows His children and He has plans!
Image by Ray Shrewsberry • from Pixabay
https://pixabay.com/photos/pruning-shears-plant-rose-pruning-7522188/
You Are The BranchesClick to see the whole passage:
1 timothy 3:16 NIV - Beyond all question, the mystery from - Bible Gateway
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