The True Vine Delights in You
One of my very favorite books is Hannah Hurnard’s Hinds’ Feet on High Places. It’s an allegory dramatizing the yearning of God’s children to be led to new heights of love, joy, and victory. In chapter four, the main character, a new Christian named Much Afraid starts her journey to the high places. As she walks along with the Shepherd, she admires the beauty of the wild flowers.
She comments to the Shepherd, “I have often wondered about the wild flowers, it does seem strange that such unnumbered multitudes should bloom in the wild places of the earth where perhaps nobody ever sees them and the goats and cattle can walk over them and crush them to death. They have so much beauty and sweetness to give and no one on whom to lavish it, nor who will even appreciate it.”
The Shepherd responds, “Nothing my father and I have made is ever wasted and the little wild flowers have a wonderful lesson to teach. They offer themselves so sweetly and confidently and willingly, even if it seems there is no one to appreciate them… All the fairest beauties in the human soul, its greatest victories, and its most splendid achievements are always those which no one else knows anything about, or can only dimly guess at. Every inner response of the human heart to Love and every conquest over self-love is a new flower…”
Much Afraid continues on her journey past streams, through forests and valleys until she finally reaches the High Places where she takes in the glorious view of the Kingdom of Love and begins to understand truth through personal growth and development in the spirit. Along her journey, she receives deliverance and healing and the Shepherd changes her name to Grace and Glory.
Spring always causes me to remember this classic Christian novel. And I often reread Hinds’ Feet on High Places to be reminded of how God wants to draw me nearer to himself.
Over Easter weekend, the sweet fragrance of Carolina jasmine filled our backyard. It’s a honeysuckle-type scent that comes from a twining vine with evergreen leaves that’s also known as evening trumpet flower. It crawls along the top of our chain-link fence and cascades down the sides in lavish yellow clusters. The nectar attracts many pollinators, some of which I adore (the butterflies) and some of which I avoid (the bees)!
While having a glass of sweet tea and admiring our Carolina jasmine, it occurred to me that as lovely as some things may appear we must be cautious for they can bear thorns and intertwining vines. When left unpruned, Carolina jasmine can overtake other plants and snuff the life out of them. Likewise when sin is left unchecked in our lives it eventually become established as iniquity to our soul and it snuffs the life of God out of our spirit man.
Galatians 5:1 tells us, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (KJV)
Have you experienced the pain of entangling sin? I have. And I understand how quickly life can become a twisted mass of strands. But, I’ve also experienced the joy of liberty in Christ.
John 8:36 encourages that, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
The Lord is our master gardener. He lovingly detangles us from the unhealthy and encumbering vines that creep in around us so that we can walk with hinds feet up to the high places in Christ.
John 15:1-4 says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”
As we remain in the Lord we will not wither. Sometimes we all feel like insignificant wild flowers, but God sees every inner response of our hearts to His great love.
Perhaps you’ve felt like Much Afraid and me? Crippled by pain and caught up in the past. Today, the master Gardener wants to give you and me a new name of victory and praise.
Isaiah 62:1-4 contains a promise for Israel which applies to you. This prophecy is yours for every season and especially for this spring:
“You'll get a brand-new name straight from the mouth of God. You'll be a stunning crown in the palm of God's hand, a jeweled gold cup held high in the hand of your God. No more will anyone call you Rejected, and your country will no more be called Ruined. You'll be called Hephzibah (My Delight)… Because God delights in you.” (The Message)
Do you ever pray outdoors while enjoying the beauty of God’s creation?
~ Jackie O.