I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 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 (John 15: 1).
At Eastward, I enjoy very much my time in the garden. I remember earlier in the year we planted some tomatoes. Due to neglect, they had grown all over the place. And it was my job one morning to tie them up to the poles.
The branches have grown twisted. They were laying over each other, all tangled up. Impatiently, I sorted them out and tied to the poles. Inevitably some branches got broken off. I said to these naughty tomatoes ‘No mercy for you!’
Always I find, just like to tomatoes, wrong habits or character not dealt with at an early age, it will take longer to change. When God is moulding my character, it sometimes hurts so much, as the branches get broken off. But I praise God! He is a merciful and gracious God! He is gently and tenderly moulding us to be more like Jesus!
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