grafting

Grafting is the practice of physically joining parts of two individual plants, so they will form a union and grow together. It is normally confined to closely related plants. But why graft? It is useful if a person wishes to change varieties on a tree now growing instead of removing the tree and planting a new one.

You can clearly see why Scripture speaks of grafting and how it applies to us. It began with God’s chosen people, the seed of Abraham, which grew into a mighty tree as you can see in the Old Testament. God would often prune that tree to try and keep it producing good fruit. We (Gentiles) were grafted into that tree, (that means we are cut off, separated from our former tree). Not to replace it, nor to become it, but to become part of it.

You see a grafted tree is not completely one or the other; it actually creates a new tree, one that has some characteristics of both. It is done so that the new tree will produce fruit quicker and a better product. But it can not be done unless the root and the trunk or base is of good quality. The tree had to have started out healthy. In grafting you literally cut off or into an existing tree, then you find another tree and you look for healthy shoots or buds and you cut them off. You do not do it recklessly but with care and precision. Then you splice the 2 together carefully, you even bandage it so that the wound will heal properly and become strong.

It is no accident that God uses this analogy, there are so many directions that you can go with it. So many lessons to be learned. I just find it so exciting. The one thing I have truly realized lately is the older I get the less I know. God is showing me how little I know, that is very humbling and exciting/nervous to know God has so much more HE wants to teach me.