12/01/11

Chastising by the Husband of the Vineyard

Obadiah 1:12 - But look not thou on the day of thy brother in the day of his disaster, and rejoice not over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither speak proudly in the day of distress.


The logical thinking of man says - because he has done wrong he gets punishment, but this is not the whole truth. Although there is some truth in it, yet it is not the whole.

We need to understand there are two types of cutting that a gardener does to the plants that are growing. One which is done to the wild plants in which they are cut so as to fully terminate them and the other which is done to the most loved and precious plants where there are pruned so has to get the best growth and the most beautiful form. Both pain but the latter causes joy after a while.

There are also times when the gardener spares the wild plants for a while, so that in the process of cutting it he may harm his precious plants.

When people of God are pruned we should never mock or point fingers to them for things will be worst for us.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord we know You love us deeply and because You love us You want the best for us. You prune us so as to remove the corrupted parts and make us most fruitful. Lord, we surrender ourselves to You, prune us and do as You will with us. You have made us and You know us better than we know ourselves. Nothing is hidden from You. Help us realize this also when we see our brother been worked on, so that we may support and encourage him through it...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scripture ]
John 15:1-6
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

Luke 21:18-19
18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

James 1:2-4
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations [testing];
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.


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