Resting in His goodness…

The doorbell rang just after I got up. It was our community gardener with questions about pruning our Russian Olive tree. He had done some research but wanted to know what shape we wanted. I said we were more interested in the health of the tree than a certain shape. After some discussion, it was decided to take out dead branches and those that were growing in an odd direction or were tangled with other branches.

After coming back in the house, I began to worship and sang one song with the line, “All my life You have been faithful” and reflected on the goodness of God. He promised to shape me into the image of His Son and has faithfully used even the most difficult things to prune my attitudes and actions. He also used that conversation with the gardener to remind me of His words:

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 does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:1–5)

While this olive tree has produced olives, not all of the branches are productive. I think about the obvious that God has cut out of my life, things that not only were fruitless but ugly and harmful to others. He works on those things with a sharp pruning knife.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:12–13)

Yet He does not stop at the obvious. He wants every ‘branch’ clean and productive. I’ve attitudes like being resentful, or unjust, or judgmental, or self-pity that others might not see if I keep my mouth shut, but He knows my inner thoughts and how to prune them too.
While His ‘Sword’ is sharp and goes after all that I might try to hide, it is for my good. He saved me so I would bear fruit and only the activity of the Holy Spirit makes that happen. The Spirit reveals what prevents it and deals with it.

Yet all of life is not ‘under the knife’ for He is not only my Gardener but much more. His great care and faithfulness includes this:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23)

PRAY: Lord, I didn’t expect a tree pruner to start my day, but I do expect that You will be with me and put Your pruning tools to work wherever my life needs something cut out. This is not always fun, but it does shape and form me, leading me in Your ways of righteousness, and for that I am grateful. You also feed and comfort me. Surely I can sing that all of my life You have been faithful — and I can rest in Your amazing goodness!

 

Black or white, I’m still a sheep

 

Sheep are silly creatures, easily spooked and often wander off into unsafe places. As today’s reading says, we consider ourselves much wiser than sheep yet would never judge our Shepherd to err in His care for us. However, as the reading says, because of our so-called ‘superior intelligence’ we presume to take matters into our own hands anyway. Instead of listening to Jesus, we wind up acting much like sheep.

I chuckle at bit at this thought. The Bible often tells me to humble myself and that is not a command to think less of me, but to think realistically of me. When I realize the analogy of being called a sheep is a reality, I’m starting to get a good idea of my IQ level compared to the wonder of God’s knowledge — and that is humbling!

Reading Charnock’s vast section on the omniscience of God staggers me. I not only know very little about Him, I’m basically in the dark about almost everything else. I cannot perceive what others are thinking, and I don’t even see myself clearly, but God does.

O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. (Psalm 139:1–6)

He is the same with all people, knowing the thoughts of hearts, what will be even before it is uttered, and knowing the number of hairs on each head. Multiply that by the number of people on earth, not just now but all who have ever lived. Staggering!

He also knows how to deal with each of us, and when He does, we are surprised, even shocked. This week alone, we had two different contractors find problems in our new home and quoted mega dollars to fix them, large shock. We were dumb-founded and not happy. But in each case, a different contractor came in to deal with two other issues. We told each of them about the first problems — and they repaired them for nothing! I told one of them, “You may not have wings, but you are an angel.”

How does God do that? He knows all things. He knew what we needed. He knew who could fill that need and how to send those persons our way. God’s surprises are faith-builders.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20–21)

The Message says, “God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!” Of course He gets the glory. In instances like these, we know that only God could come up with solutions like those two, and more. Each day seems to bring another surprise from God.

PRAY: I woke tired this morning, feeling needy even after eight hours sleep. Do I ask or imagine how to deal with this? Or do I wait on You to surprise me in some way that is beyond my ability? Lord, I’m too tired to do anything but wait on You. Thanks for assurance of Your presence and Your power to take care of all troubling things and to hold me from running off elsewhere like a silly sheep.