This morning I was on my way to the kitchen to get a second cup of coffee. I passed the side table and realized that the bamboo plant sitting there needed water.
Two years ago a neighbor brought it to us as a Christmas gift. I’ve moved it to a larger pot. It had one shoot die and another start. I must admit that I haven’t had as much success with it as I do with my other plants. It seems odd to me that a plant can grow without soil and survive, or even thrive, on only water.
I enjoy taking care of my plants. Some of them I brought from Montana when we moved almost five years ago. Others that made the trip have been with me much longer than that. I have one corn plant that I rescued from near death when we lived in Encinitas, CA. That was 1990. I can’t remember how many shoots I have cut from that plant and given away. It continues to thrive.
At the end of each year I ponder my spiritual growth. Years and years ago I heard a minister say “if you aren’t growing and moving forward in your spiritual life you are backsliding”. Yikes! Since that time, I have prayerfully evaluated my spiritual growth.
Do I look and act more like Jesus than I did before? I must honestly say the answer hasn’t always been yes. Some years my growth seemed dormant and in others it appeared that my leaves were dry and brittle, almost dead and in need of pruning.
“Jesus said to his disciples: I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts away every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit. But he trims clean every branch that does produce fruit, so that it will produce even more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of what I have said to you.
4 Stay joined to me, and I will stay joined to you. Just as a branch cannot produce fruit unless it stays joined to the vine, you cannot produce fruit unless you stay joined to me. 5 I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me.” John 15:1-5 CEV
One thing I have learned in tending to my plants is that pruning doesn’t hurt a healthy plant. Pruning is the cutting away of the dead and useless branches. When they are removed, the plant grows stronger because it is no longer trying to supply water and nutrients to areas that have died.
It’s important that we are well watered. We will grow and be more like Christ when we are. How are we watered?
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. 10 The rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return there without giving water to the earth. This makes plants grow on the earth, and gives seeds to the planter and bread to the eater. 11 So My Word which goes from My mouth will not return to Me empty. It will do what I want it to do, and will carry out My plan well.” Isaiah 55:9-11 NLV
We are watered with God’s word. It provides what we need for a full and fruitful life.
“If you get your life from Me and My Words live in you, ask whatever you want. It will be done for you. 8 “When you give much fruit, My Father is honored. This shows you are My followers. 9 I have loved you just as My Father has loved Me. Stay in My love. 10 If you obey My teaching, you will live in My love. In this way, I have obeyed My Father’s teaching and live in His love. 11 I have told you these things so My joy may be in you and your joy may be full.The Christian with Other Christians 12 “This is what I tell you to do: Love each other just as I have loved you.” John 15:7-12 NLV
Take some time over the next few days to ask the Lord if there is anything He would like to prune from your life. There’s no condemnation if He shows you something; it’s for your benefit. Pruning will make you stronger and more productive.
I thank God that He loves me enough to see that I grow in a healthy way by removing those things that would stunt my growth.