The Message of Spring

by Ken Thomas

The last snowfall of winter on Monday reminded me of how fragile the blossoms on trees and flowering plants are. Truly the world of nature "takes a chance on life" when it blossoms. Last year my fruit trees were in full bloom when the hard freeze hit. Despite efforts to protect the trees, our total crop was 7 plums and zero peaches, nectarines, apples, pears. Despite almost total failure last year, my trees "are trying again." They may get frozen again but I suspect that as long as they live, they will continue trying to reproduce themselves by blooming and bearing fruit.

Sometimes as Christians we get discouraged when our efforts for the Lord seem to fail. When we try to bring someone to Christ and we get our "blooms frozen off," we may hesitate to try again. When we think we have made a convert to Christ, sometimes a blight of sin or a spiritual "worm" causes the "fruit" to drop early. We need to remember that we cannot bear fruit of ourselves, only when abiding in Christ ( John 15:4-6).

The example of the fruit tree also reminds us that when we fail in our "reason for being," when we mess up in life through our own weakness or outside influences beyond our control, we should not give up. "The trying of your faith worketh patience...Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, when the Lord hath promised to them that love him." James 1:3,12.

• The Fruit of the Spirit Touches all Relationships - Nov 20, 2005
• Seeds of Discord Produce Rotten Fruit - Mar 20, 2005
• Fear Nots - Jan 24, 1999
• Overcoming Discouragement - Jul 06, 1997
• Life from the Compost Pile - Jun 06, 1996