July 11, 2002
THE WORK OF THE HUSBANDMAN. The planting of the Lord is that which is eternal and indestructible. Every plant and tree must have its roots, so the root of the tree of life is the Lord Jesus. Rev. 22:16 The root of our spiritual life must be the Lord Jesus. We are to be rooted in Him. The root speaks of strength, stability and sustenance. These elements are the life force of the tree. Col. 2:7 We are one with the tree when Christ dwells within, for we are rooted and grounded in love, His love abounding in our hearts. Eph. 3:17 Love for Him, and more importantly love for one another. If we cannot love our brother whom we associate with, some on a daily basis, how can we love God, whom we have not seen? 1 John 4:20 The person who trusts and believes the Lord is likened to a tree drawing its life from the its root planted by the river. The leaves of the tree do not wither when heat or problems arise but maintain their life giving process of photosynthesis. A dry season, a drought will not cause difficulties for the source of life giving waters is secure. The tree remains fruitful regardless of circumstances. It maintains its purpose for existence, always fruitful. Jer. 17:8 Spiritual life, like this tree will be tried and tested. We do not always maintain the same spiritual level of joy and gladness. The mountain top experience. There are valleys and dark places that must be traversed, but if the Lord is our hope, He is also our stay. There will be problems, there will be testing, there will be dry places. In all these the tree maintains its life and fruitfulness. We are that tree and these are those things that every one of us must face on the road to perfection.
THE HUSBANDMAN CARES FOR HIS VINE. Jesus made it plain that He is the vine and that we are the branches. How blessed we are to have His strength and life giving sustenance flowing through our lives. To ABIDE in Him is the key to the Christian life. We cannot exist, spiritually apart from Him. To ABIDE, is to remain steadfastly in Him. John 15:4 Making Him our continuous dwelling place and to allow Him complete access to our hearts by the Spirit and the Word. Consistent commitment to Him a high Spiritual standard will assure us of the glorious presence of the living God, in His fullness. His promise is that we shall continue in the Son and in the Father. 1 John 2:24 There is no existence apart from the vine. The branches are fruitless when separated from the vine. John 15:4-5 If the life flow is broken and the branch becomes fruitless it is pruned from the vine and rejected. They are then gathered and cast into the fire and are destroyed. How terse and final sounding. v. 6 Beautiful promise based on our abiding in the WORD, and the Word abiding in us, we then may ask what we will and it shall come to pass. v. 7 The sign of discipleship is the fact that one continues to abide in His Spirit and presence. v. 8 It is indeed, Christ in you the hope of glory. Col. 1:27