Pruning And Shaping - Clare Baptist Church

By Rhona Bruce

When I received an email from Elsa asking if I’d write a Midweek Musing my mind went blank and I thought, “What can I write about?”

Thinking over the last 18 months and how I spent this time I thought of gardening. I don’t have a big garden but it’s just the right size for me. It has given me great pleasure and kept me busy. I’d go out each day and walk around looking at new plants I’d planted or do some tidying up. A couple of years ago I planted a winter flowering clematis and for the first time this winter it produced lovely, waxy, white flowers in the dark months when all the trees were bare. They were a great source of hope and encouragement for the coming of Spring. Then it was the turn of the Spring bulbs which gave a lovely splash of colour.

As the year progressed, we had a lot of rain, so everything grew rapidly, and my bushes had doubled in size. I decided to treat myself to a cordless hedge trimmer. The first time I used I had a bit of difficulty and almost ended up with bonsai bushes!!!! But I’m now a lot better and more cautious when using the trimmer. I like to cut back bushes after they’ve flowered to encourage stronger growth for next year.

It’s like us. We need to be reminded of who is in control and who guides us.

John 15:1-8

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

God’s pruning tool is His word. As we read our Bible, we get guidance, and we are changed by His Spirit.

(Photo by Crystal Jo on Unsplash)