Falling Leaves


Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me. John 15:4

There was an interesting little piece at the end of the news recently. It told us that leaves don’t just fall off trees in the autumn (fall), they are pushed! How so?

A botanist explained how the tree makes a channel of cells between itself and each leaf. This channel actually becomes a block to prevent life-giving sap from passing to the tree, thus the leaf withers, dies and falls off the tree. To prove the point, the reporter had broken a green leafy twig off a tree and left it to dry out. He then turned a fan full force on the leaves and they all stayed firmly attached to the twig. Interesting!

I have thought about many different ways this can apply to our lives. The obvious one is what Jesus talks about in John 15. He tells us that we need to stay in close fellowship (abide) with Him. You can be sure if you do that, He will not push you away. But there is another application that quickly comes to mind. It is very easy for us to be the “tree” that makes that channel between ourselves and others and causes broken relationships – it happens in marriages, families and friendships.

The ‘channel’ is caused when we decide to hold onto our hurt, bitterness, unforgiveness or anger. We literally cut our hearts off from the ones who hurt us and create an impassable obstacle. So long as we don’t allow a flow of love, communication or fellowship between us, the relationship cannot survive. We are actually causing it to die by our refusal to love and forgive. When we do this we also become a victim of our own actions because Jesus says very plainly that if we will not forgive others then they sin against us, our heavenly Father cannot forgive us (Matthew 6:14-15). This means that we will be like the branch that bears no good fruit which is cut off and thrown into the fire. Ouch!

Is the satisfaction you are getting from withholding love and forgiveness from the one who hurt you worth losing your loving relationship with God for? It will be hurting you more than the one you are offended with. Settle it today. God can help you do what you feel is impossible.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I need your forgiveness so much each day but sometimes I find it hard to forgive those who hurt me. Please help me to forgive so that I can receive the forgiveness from you that I so desperately need. Amen.