April 27

"Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?"

—Matthew 7:16.

LET me learn the parable of the trees.

Some of them are unprofitable and worthless. Their fruit is evil, sour and acid, perhaps poisonous and noxious. They cumber the ground. They are fit only to be hewn down, and to be cast into the fire. And such was I once. God's springs came, but they did not clothe me in a mantle of green. God's summers came, but their dew and sun simply increased my gracelessness.

But instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree. In the blessed husbandry of spirits, the bad-natured trees may be changed by divine power and mercy into good trees, the planting of the Lord. Is it so with me? Has the thistle blossomed into a rose fit for the bosom of the King of kings?

Then let me make it evident by bringing forth fruit to the glory of Him who has done great things for me. I should be a vine hanging with the purple grapes of love. I should be a fig whose large and glossy leaves impart coolness and refreshment. I should be an olive clad with the grey-green verdure of wisdom. My Lord looks for these things.

It is my encouragement that He who planted me waters and keeps me too. The Father is the Husbandman. He will give the increase. He will ripen the vintage and mature the harvest. Just let me pray to Him, and trust always in Him, and cast myself upon Him with an implicit faith. Then I shall be neither barren nor unfruitful.

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