Gardening is a joy to very many, to watch that plant sprout and grow, knowing that sometime in the future there will be fruit produced from that sprout. To get the sprout to grow there has to be preparation to the soil, it has to be dug, tilled and weeded. There are certain spots for certain types of crops, for example peas, need a way to climb and zucchini needs lots of room. The temperature has to be warm enough to plant. For those of us in the north Memorial day weekend is the usual time to plant.

One cannot just go and toss some seed and hope for anything reasonable to happen, once the seed has been planted it will sprout and begin to grow, the job is just getting started. Every day that garden will have to be tended, by watering and constantly taking out those relentless weeds. Nutrients might have to be added to the soil. If you have a crop like grapes that come back every year, they have to be pruned so that more fruit will be produced, pruning means cutting off those things that aren’t producing, otherwise the nutrient that are carried by the vine will be wasted.

Our heavenly Father is that gardener, who tends for His crops, with care and concern for what is growing. He pulls the weeds, adds nutrients, and prunes. Weeding and pruning aren’t exactly fun or comfortable, see for the Christian it is usually done by trials, and disciple. Those things in our lives that are just dead weight need to go, those old habits need to be plucked. God in His wisdom know when, where and how this is to happen, for the best results.

Jesus speaks about this in John 15: 1-8

15 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.