Cut down to a stump…

I was stunned to see several tree stumps outside of my workplace where healthy trees once stood tall. I hadn’t walked on that side of the building in ages, but it was hard not to noticed that a couple of trees had been cut down. Though I wondered why, it became a moment of personal reflection. Whether some of the trees were cut down because they were dying, crooked and in danger of harming people or property, or just downright unfruitful – or the orange markings indicated progress was coming through – I was still struck by the fact that some others survived the cut. It caused me to evaluate whether I am meeting the standards set forth in God’s Word. My conclusion: there is certainly room for improvement!

I want to consistently bring forth good fruit and be increasingly productive in God’s kingdom. Therefore, I must be willing to release and say farewell to the things of the past as He ushers in a new thing. Instead of holding onto the familiar for dear life with tightly clenched fists, in this season, I know I must allow the new thing to be birthed in me by yielding fully to the will of God. Purge me, Lord, and find me faithful to You…

“Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.”
(Isaiah 42:9)

“18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”
(Isaiah 43:18-19)

“And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”
(Matthew 3:10)

“17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
(Matthew 7:17-20)

© Copyright 2018 by Kayren J. Cathcart