As I was walking in my garden last night to check on my roses to see if more had bloomed--I stopped over to look at one of the rose bushes. This rose bush is super special because my friends showed me how to take "special" care of this poor-pitiful rose bush that was just sick. They showed me the tool that needed to be used on this rose-to prune it-to make it better. They taught me how much to cut and how far to cut down to for the leaves to come back strong and beautiful. They taught me how to bring life to this precious rose. They created food for me to feed this precious rose bush and now I am awaiting some roses to come because right now all I see is thorns. Then of course, GOD showed me, once again, without fail, something that I will never forget:
Humanness: "our imperfections, quirks, and our emotional baggage" We all produce thorns that will inflict hurt on other people. This will be so as long as we live. The question is are we going to put forth the effort to nurture those qualities that will ultimately produce “roses” (i.e., good works, spiritual fruit, spiritual gifts, Christ-likeness) for God’s glory, or, are we just going to be a thorn bush that is good for nothing but causing pain and discomfort in others?
John 15 Jesus is clear about what happens to that type of branch. It is cut off and thrown into the refuse pile to be destroyed later.
Read:
I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn't bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken. Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me. "I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples. I've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done—kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love. "I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father. "You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you. "But remember the root command: Love one another.
I don't want to be the "thorn in someones side"...I want to be a beautiful (pink) rose that will “bloom” to everyone--reflecting ONLY the glory of God.
Blessings,