Pruned to Bloom

“What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” Psalm 8:4

A few years ago, we found an old product of ours being sold in Carousel, that online selling platform where we can find preloved stuff, and even houses and used cars. We didn’t make the figurine anymore, but it had value to us because it was one of our original designs. It was obviously dirty, and had scratches and the paint was faded. Even if we made it, we couldn’t tell the seller, “That’s ours, we want it back!” So I purchased it at the price the seller was asking for. We could clean it, paint it, refurbish it, make it look new again. 

Isn’t that what Jesus, the Son of God, did? He purchased us at a very exhorbitant price, His very life, just so He could make us a new creature. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, St. Paul wrote, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 

Inexplicably, God values us. Even if we have sinned and fallen short again and again, He still finds us precious enough to save from the garbage heap of sin. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen a preacher show us a crisp new bank note. Then he crumples it up, steps on it, and says, “Look at this, it’s dirty and creased, but it still has the same value as the new money.” No matter how stuck in the mud we are, God can make a beautiful garden of our lives if we allow Him. I always say He is my gardener. He likes to prune me, a lot! But I know He just wants me to bloom!