THE STANDARD ROSE TREE - TRANSFORMATION

THE STANDARD ROSE TREE — TRANSFORMATION

I had a very interesting subject last evening: my illustration, the standard rose tree, will explain it to you. The rose needs sun, and its own climate to promote its bloom; the stem, the briar, must be kept down by the knife. As I behold the glory of the Lord I am transformed, that is the effect of beholding Him; the rose prospers; occupation with Christ where He is produces this. Next, by the hand of God everything in me which would obstruct the flourishing of the rose is cut off. “We which live are alway delivered unto death” (2 Corinthians 4: 11). I gain through the attractiveness of Christ, and God severs me from everything which would distract. The power of Christ attracts and transforms, the hand of God delivers to death that which would distract. I am disencumbered in the presence of Christ by the brightness and bliss of Himself and His things; but I am actually severed from them as I find I have much better with Him who is greater than Solomon. I see, and am transformed; I delight in it; and then God helps me by rolling in death on that which ^[p. 52] would divert me. I was speaking on the twofold action of attaching us to Christ on the one hand, and being detached by God’s hand from ‘the stone before the wheel’ on the other; an exotic in a soil (an adverse nature in me) and in a climate (the whole world) both of which are absolutely and relentlessly adverse to it, and yet it is here that by the power of God it is to flourish.

I have been interested in seeing that through the death of Christ, we are cleared of everything between us and the Father’s house; as we walk in faith we realise it, but then we have to die; we are circumcised; and thus in armour we face Satan, and we walk in constant dependence on God.