Cut Down That You May Grow

“For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.” Job 14:7, 9.

Here, indeed, is hope! Dear child of God, have you been “cut down”? No matter, for “through the scent of water”—Living Water—you may bud again. The husbandman prunes that the tree may yield more fruit, and so it is with God. One has said “God is a zealous pruner, for he knows who, falsely tender, spares the knife but spoils the rose”. It is the truest Love that will “cut down” in order to grow a “tender branch” that “will not cease”.
An husbandman prunes only those trees which are his. What comfort you may take in being “cut down”; this is a reminder that you are truly God’s child and that he is caring for you. He is fulfilling his promise to perform a good work in you until the day of Jesus Christ. He is forming you more to his own image that you may bring more glory to his name.

~Cut down, that you may grow~

Finding Jesus Again

by

Leah S. Carpenter

In John 20:1-16 we have a beautiful picture of what we must do when we have lost the presence of Jesus in order to recover it. Mary had lost the presence of Jesus, and couldn’t keep still in her normal routine until she had found him again. She rose early in the morning the first possible day she could seek him, going to the place she knew he had last been. She had lost him there, and there she was determined to find him, if all she could have was his lifeless body to care for. Though he had apparently failed, she had faith and love enough to not give him up; she would stay there with him. She had no desire to live apart from him. She sought of all those around, asking them to “tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”, yet she would not leave without him, or at least a knowledge of where he was. Her grief was so great that she could not recognize Jesus as he stood before her until she heard his voice. He was not unmindful of her perseverance and devotion, even at the hour of returning to his Father and his glory. She was rewarded by his very presence and communion with him there, her deep sorrow turning to joy. When he made himself known to her, and she knew she had him again, there was only one thing she could do, and that was to worship.

Have you, too, lost the presence of Jesus? Return to the place you lost him and persevere there until he is again revealed to you. He will honour your devotion and will come to you again, if you are truly seeking him, restoring the communication so dear to your heart and necessary to your soul. Remain beside the grave of broken dreams, hopes, plans; remain even by the grave of what you thought was the Lord’s will for your life but that “fell through”; remain at the place you last saw Jesus; until he appears with words of peace to your heart. He will surely come to those who seek him again.

January 26, 2010

If I Had My Way

by

Leah S. Carpenter

If I had my way, there would be no more sorrow in the world. Joy would fill hearts, and happiness would no longer be fleeting. Families would love and remain close; church families would get along, edifying one another, building one another up in the Lord. There would be no sighs of longing after that which is so good to desire, yet out of one’s reach. If I had my way, there would be no pain – mental, emotional or physical. There would be no sickness, no weakness, no premature death. Precious dreams would remain and not fly away, unrealized. Life would continue a long course, with human life treasured and allowed to be held by those nearest it.

But if I had my way, there would be no softening, strengthening effects of sorrow, no compassion learned from pain. The greatest, most difficult – yet sweetest – influence in our lives would be swept away: sorrow, pain. Love would not be as deep, for it could not grow as well without sorrow, which is love’s sweetest, most nourishing water. Joy could not be as sweet, for it would not have the contrast of sorrow to teach us how to savour it. Life could not be as sweet, for, without brevity, we would not know to treasure it. Moreover, if I had things in my way, there would be no need of a Saviour, no need to turn to Jesus, our truest Treasure. There would be no need for the Comforter; no realization of Christ’s arms of love and his sufficient grace. Ah, then I shall leave in his hands the ordering of our lives, for he knows how to give the best to his children. He knows best how to give us all things richly to enjoy. Truly his way is best; let me not murmur, but cling to him.

I cannot end pain and sorrow, but one day, God will. I cannot end sickness, but one day God will. I cannot end sin, but one day God will make us perfect. I cannot hold my dear, hurting friends when they cry, but God not only holds them, he puts their tears into his bottle. I cannot mend their broken hearts, but God is mending them. I cannot use sorrow for their good, but God is – that is why he sent the pain. I cannot stop premature death, but God, the Sovereign of all the universe, knows that there is none, for all are in his hand. I cannot have things my way, but I have them the way they should be: ordered by the God of Love, who not only can do no wrong, but who promises to turn all things to good for those who love him. Ah, then let me have things God’s way, for his way is infinitely best.

Ah, then let me have things in God’s way,
For his way is infinitely best,
Let me embrace now God’s way,
For in his way I find rest.

Let me have things in God’s way,
For my way would ruin it all
For God knows best that in his way
There is no flaw at all.

My way has many lacked blessings
That would ruin his plan
For my way could never consider
The best that there is for man.

Let me joy now in God’s way,
And never a shadow of doubt
Cast at the wisdom of his way
And discontentment block out.