Recently my husband accidently cut off a sprig from my Fragrant Cloud rose bush when mowing the lawn in the back garden. There were two buds on it and there is a part of me which hates to see anything die, so I decided to replant it hoping that it would grow into another bush and the buds would flourish and open.
As I planted it in a pot of earth and gradually saw what was happening to it I was reminded of my life, and the gradual change in me over time as I am being taught by the Holy Spirit. Very soon after I had transplanted the sprig new leaves started to grow from it.
It reminded me of when I first came to the Lord and the Holy Spirit started to enlighten the Word of God as I read the Bible, teaching me gradually and renewing my mind in Christ.
As the days go by I can see the buds lowering their heads as the branch bends over, the older leaves starting to die, and the new ones starting to increase and enlarge.
The new growth reminds me of what I would consider an initial instruction from the scriptures that is relevant when we are born again of God's Holy Spirit, as written in Colossians ch. 3 v. 1 - 3:- 'If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.'
In verse 10 we are told that our new self 'is being renewed in knowledge after the image of it's creator.'
The old leaves that are dying remind me of my on-going instruction from the Word of God to:- 'Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.' Ephesians ch. 4 v. 31 and to:-
'put to death' what is earthly, such as 'fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry, ' Colossians ch. 3 v. 5, and the lowering of the old buds remind me of the instruction written in James ch. 4 v. 7:- 'Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.'
I have found God to be a very patient and loving God Who understands that we are flesh and, just like my rose twig is taking time for the old to die and the new to form, so too has it been, and still is, in my walk with the Lord. However, the more I have come to know the Lord and experience His love the more I run to Him and desire for my mind to be renewed in Him through the teaching of the Holy Spirit, and the more I endeavour to, and want to, 'put to death' what is earthly in me.
Paul the apostle said in Philippians ch. 3 v. 12 - 14, regarding attaining the resurrection from the dead:- 'Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.'
I too say these words, and also acknowledge the words of James in James ch. 1 vs. 2-4 'Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.'
As I watch the transformation of my rose twig, and what it reflects in my life, I speak these words from my heart to the Lord:-
You can make me whole Lord
You can make me whole Lord
and take away my fears
You've put laughter in my life
in place of all my tears
All I can say is 'Thank You'
and love You all the more
when I see how I am now
and think how I was before
My sickness You took years ago Lord
for me there was no price to pay
All You required was my trust in You
and that I look to You each day
I know that You see every sorrow
that is laying deep down in my heart
but know also that You are the Healer
and all pain from my past will depart
So as I grow up in You Jesus
let Your precious love open my eyes
Let my ears hear the voice of the Father
instead of this world and its lies
Lord I love You, Lord I praise You, Lord I honour Your Name
Lord I trust You, and believe You will make me like Jesus, the same.
Lord I trust You, and believe You will make me like Jesus, the same.
