John 10:10, New International Version

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

It’s amazing how God can speak to us through ordinary things in life. This is my first year doing gardening. I am learning so much! I have quite a few tomato plants in my garden so I can make various things for our home. But as I was giving thought to the things I have learned about a tomato plant, I thought of how it could parallel our own Christian walk.

Once established, tomato plants will grow, of course, producing fruit. As the plant continues to grow, they develop what is called a “sucker.” A sucker will take away energy from the plant’s production or even the coloring of the tomato. If you pinch off the suckers on the tomato plant, it redirects energy back into the tomato plant so that it can produce fruit or even help the tomato turn from green to red. Tomato plants need constant care and pruning.

Just like tomato plants, as we grow in our faith and our walk with the Lord, we can develop “suckers” in our life that will take our energy or focus away from Christ.  The Bible tells us, “… For we are not unaware of his schemes.” (2 Corinthians 2:11, NIV) This scripture is in reference to Satan. The Bible also tells us that, “The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10, NIV) Our enemy knows the victory we have in Christ and will do anything to take that victory away from us by diverting us away from Christ. But we are not unaware of his schemes! We have to pinch the suckers off and redirect our energy and focus back on Christ. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV), “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” So be intentional! Identify the sucker, pinch it off, and make it obedient to Christ! 

Just like the tomato plant needing much attention and care, we too need much attention, much pruning. Jesus tells us, “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, as I also 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. (John 15:1-4, NIV) We go through the various things we do because our Father loves us. He is pruning us, He is preparing us…for our future on earth and our future in eternity. Remain in Him. Focus on Him. Allow Him to do this beautiful work, this pruning, so that you can bear much fruit unto righteousness. It isn’t always easy, regardless of what anyone says. The Bible tells us also, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9, NIV)

So! Let us pinch off the suckers! Make them obedient to Christ! Remain in Him!  Allow Him to prune us so we can bear fruit unto righteousness! And do not grow weary in doing good, for we too shall reap a harvest if we faint not!