Growing Like A ...!

This world is full of a variety of plants. Perhaps we wonder about the purpose of some them, especially the weeds. Blame Adam. ( Genesis 3:18) Sometimes a child is noted as “growing like a weed.” Weeds do grow quickly, but hopefully the weed (growing wild and unattended) is not descriptive of the character of the child. Though Micah would prophesy regarding the salvation of God that was to come, he noted a sad condition among the people at the time.

We read…
“The best of them is LIKE A BRIER, the most upright of them A THORN HEDGE. The day of your watchmen, of your punishment, has come; now their confusion is at hand.” ( Micah 7:4 ESV)

Did you note this was not a description of the worst of them, but of the best? What a sad commentary on the overall character of a people. It is not a picture of FRUITFULNESS, but one of overgrown desolation. Such is the picture of a life when God and His Will are ignored. What kind of plant depicts our life?

Let us bear in mind the picture Jesus encouraged toward.
“(4) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch CANNOT BEAR FRUIT BY ITSELF, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. (5) I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever ABIDES IN ME AND I IN HIM, HE IT IS THAT BEARS MUCH FRUIT, for apart from me you can do nothing.” ( John 15:4-5 ESV)

When we remain properly connected to Jesus, the “true vine” ( John 15:1), the picture of the life is not one of desolation, but rather one of much FRUITFULNESS. It is our connection to Him that makes this possible as we continue receiving the life giving nourishment that flows from the “true vine” into our life. Let us remain open to the pruning of the “vinedresser” ( John 15:1-2) so that more FRUIT will continue to be produced to His glory.

Have a great day LIVING A GOD TENDED LIFE!
Carl

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