Cracks formed on the dry, bare ground. Tulips and daffodils pushed the soil aside and shouldered their way up from the earth. The first signs of spring grew and bloomed and brought some much-wanted color back into the world again.
Perhaps your spring cleanup in the yard has already been accomplished. A little raking, some mowing and fertilizing.
Have you done any pruning? Those who have fruit trees learn that the way to get the most fruit from your tree is to do some judicious pruning. If you don’t, the fruit is smaller and less succulent. When you do your pruning, those branches you cut off won’t last long before they are dried up and lifeless.
Jesus said: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned” (John 15:5–6).
Summer is fast approaching. You and I, dear Christian, are branches grafted into the Vine— Christ Jesus. Those whose graft loosens fall out, fall away and dry up.
Summer means more family time for many people. Summer also tends to see dwindling church attendance. Its ironic that the season of gardening and growth tends to be the season for many to fall away from their Lord.
You wouldn’t plant your garden and then leave it forgotten in the back yard for the rest of the summer, only to complain when there was no produce later on. You tend your garden. You want the harvest to be as productive as possible so you prune, you weed, you fertilize, you water. All in the hopes of a bountiful harvest.
Letting a field lie fallow for a season might be wise farming, but it isn’t wise Christian stewardship of your heart. Don’t neglect the Word.
Though Bible classes lighten up in the summer because many are traveling, your personal Bible class and devotion can take a different turn. If your schedule doesn’t involve as much running around, curl up with your favorite Bible outside on the patio. Dig in deep to a volume of the People’s Bible from our library or buy one from Northwestern Publishing House (www.nph.net or call 800-662-6022).
Make summer time a time of growth rather than a time to wither. May God bless your study of His Word.
