God's Green Thumb
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
It was the summer of 1981 and I was sitting in the middle of about 350 junior high kids at summer camp and we were listening to the speaker talk about being a disciple of Jesus Christ and the importance of continual spiritual growth. I’ve never forgotten the image that he gave us to think about. He said, “it takes 6 months to grow a huge squash but it takes hundreds of years to grow a giant redwood.” Then he went on to ask the kids what they would prefer to be, a huge squash or a giant redwood? It’s not surprising, not one junior high kid wanted to be a squash. Everyone wants to grow up to be majestic in some way. And the good news is, each of us can as we grow in the knowledge of God and His plan for our lives.
Growing in the things of God isn’t stressful, they are natural, the byproduct of remaining connected to Jesus Christ. Remember, it’s not what you and I do but what Christ has done for us. God is the gardener, and He has a green thumb! Your growth and mine occurs as we connect with Him and walk in His ways. Everything going on in your life is designed to make you fruitful. Every season of life, from fall where the leaves all come off to the winter months when no fruit can be found. Staying connected to the vine ensures we have the nourishment needed to produce the perfect amount of fruit in its season, always in God’s perfect time.
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
John 15:1-2
I LOVE YOU!
It was the summer of 1981 and I was sitting in the middle of about 350 junior high kids at summer camp and we were listening to the speaker talk about being a disciple of Jesus Christ and the importance of continual spiritual growth. I’ve never forgotten the image that he gave us to think about. He said, “it takes 6 months to grow a huge squash but it takes hundreds of years to grow a giant redwood.” Then he went on to ask the kids what they would prefer to be, a huge squash or a giant redwood? It’s not surprising, not one junior high kid wanted to be a squash. Everyone wants to grow up to be majestic in some way. And the good news is, each of us can as we grow in the knowledge of God and His plan for our lives.
Growing in the things of God isn’t stressful, they are natural, the byproduct of remaining connected to Jesus Christ. Remember, it’s not what you and I do but what Christ has done for us. God is the gardener, and He has a green thumb! Your growth and mine occurs as we connect with Him and walk in His ways. Everything going on in your life is designed to make you fruitful. Every season of life, from fall where the leaves all come off to the winter months when no fruit can be found. Staying connected to the vine ensures we have the nourishment needed to produce the perfect amount of fruit in its season, always in God’s perfect time.
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
John 15:1-2
I LOVE YOU!
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