A while back I was in a grocery store and I heard a
distraught mom pose that question to her misbehaving son. I wondered what she
thought he would say: “yes, please mom and make it a hard swat!” Well that's
not what he said, and I think her question was to get him to consider the
consequences of his actions.
The last six days of 70 degree plus weather reminded me
that the Bible has much to say about taking care of plants, especially trees
and vineyards (see John 15:1-8; Matt. 13:1-23). I recently returned from
California where I drove by many orchards of orange trees that was loaded with
fruit. The odd part was the branches had been machine pruned and the tree
looked like a square cube sitting on top of the trunk. The owner of the orchard
said they do that to stimulate new growth so the trees will bear more fruit. I
also drove by several vineyards. It reminded me of the words of Jesus in John
15:1 and following. “I am the vine, and My father is the vine dresser. Every
branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away, and every branch that
bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit.”
So God needs to discipline or prune out the bad limbs in
each of us at times for our own good. Just like pruning trees makes them
stronger—letting God have control over our lives and giving Him permission to
prune where and when needed makes us stronger. I'm sorry that sometimes He has
so much work to do because I've been stubborn and let my branches get out of
control. So sometimes we may need to ask the same question to God that the
mother asked her son. “God, do I need a spanking (a pruning to make me more
like You)?” God wants us to be productive citizens in His kingdom. Jesus said
His father would be glorified, if you bear much fruit, and you would prove to
be disciples of His (John 15:8). There seems to be a correlation between
letting God discipline us and being His disciple.
—Alan
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