Looking out my back window I see new life rising up. Flowers are blooming, leaves are unfolding, fruit from our plum tree is soon to follow and weeds are starting to raise up their ugly heads. Even with the beauty of spring bursting forth, a bit of the unwanted still comes. I think this is a wonderful example of our lives. Pardon the mixture of metaphors but I think you’ll get the point.
The definition of the Fruit of the Spirit is:
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. John 15:1-2 (NIV)
If you want to be one of His branches that bears fruit you must allow the pruning process to occur. If you want to have more flowers bloom in your life and have His fragrance permeate your being, all that is taking away from it’s growth must be removed.
So often we want to run away, stuff or ignore the ugly parts of our character. Instead of beating yourself up for another fit of rage that came out, why not stop and ask God to show you what was the root of that anger? He wants to help remove that part of your character. He wants to bloom throughout your whole being so others will look and see His glorious work that is alive in your life.
We need to learn to be thankful when we see the weeds in our lives because God is allowing us to see areas that need a bit more attention. Maybe even a pick ax is needed to get down to that very stubborn root in your life. The great thing about God as our Master Gardener is that He knows where to work, how far to dig and He does it in a way that doesn’t reveal too much for us to handle at a time. He even knows how to dig out the unwanted parts while keeping the flourishing parts of our character that He has started to develop.
Sometimes the reason why we act a certain way stems from years of abuse or certain bad things that may have happened as a child. In some cases we have buried the offense so far down that we didn’t even know it was there. But our actions reveal that there is something deep within that needs to be pulled up.
For example, God has shown me how defensive and hurt to most criticism I would become. It was evident by how I would quickly lash back with my justification as to why I was right without even considering another persons opinion. This year I invited the Gardener in more than ever to do His Work and He has been able to show me deep roots of pride that needed to be pulled out. He has worked over the years to remove pebbles and rocks along with bad soil to get to the root. This was the year to pull it all out. Thank You Jesus! Now I can finally hear and learn more so that more good fruit can come in and out! He was able to replace that weed in my life with His Love and Acceptance for me just as I am and not because of my performance. All because I am His daughter.
Romans 8:29 (NIV)
Let’s truly rejoice in all that God has in store for us. Welcome the Master Gardener in your life today!
24 This is the day that the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it! Psalm 118:24 (KJV)
