Well Done! Good & Faithful Servant!

"He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that bears fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." – John 15:2.

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Once upon a time, in the heart of an ancient Kingdom, there was a beautiful and every day the Master of the garden would walk. All the plants of the garden, the most beautiful and most beloved was gracious and noble bamboo. Year after year, bamboo grew yet more noble and gracious, conscious of his Master's love and watchful delight but very modest.

Now, one day, the Master himself drew near to contemplate his Bamboo with eyes of curious expectancy. And Bamboo, in a passion of adoration, bowed his great head to the ground in loving greeting.

The Master spoke: "Bamboo, Bamboo, I would use you."

Bamboo flung his head to the sky in utter delight. The day of days had come, the day for which he had been made, the day to which he had been growing hour by hour, the day in which he would find his completion and his destiny.

His voice came low: "Master, I'm ready. Use me as you wish."

"Bamboo," The Master's voice was grave "I would have to take you and cut you down!"

A trembling of great horror shook Bamboo."Cut me down? Me, whom you, Master, has made the most beautiful in thy entire Garden? Use me for the joy, use me for the glory, oh master, but do not cut me down!"

"Beloved Bamboo," The Master's voice grew graver still "If I do not cut you down, I cannot use you."

The garden grew still. Wind held his breath. Bamboo slowly bent his proud and glorious head. There was a whisper: "Master, if you cannot use me other than to cut me down, then do your will and cut".

"Bamboo, beloved Bamboo, not only that. I would cut your leaves and branches from you, strip the leave from you, split you in two and cut out your heart also".

The Sun hid his face. A listening butterfly glided fearfully away. And Bamboo shivered in terrible expectancy, bowed to the ground and whispered: "Master, Master, do what you will."

So did the Master of the garden; he took Bamboo,

- and cut him down.

- and hacked off his branches.

- and stripped off his leaves.

- and split him in two.

- and cut out his heart.

And lifting him gently, the Master carried Bamboo to where there was a spring of fresh sparkling water in the midst of his dry fields. Then putting one end of the broken Bamboo in the spring and the other end into the water channel in the field, the Master gently laid down his beloved Bamboo. And the spring sang welcome, and the clear sparkling waters raced joyously down the channel of bamboo's torn body into the waiting fields. Then the rice was planted, and the days went by, and the shoots grew and the harvest came.

In that day Bamboo, once so glorious in his stately beauty, was yet more glorious in his brokenness and humility. For in his beauty he was life abundant, but in his brokenness he became a channel of abundant life to his Master's world.

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Are you broken? Are you split into two? Is your heart cut out? Be still and know that God is at work and He will mould you into a masterpiece; pleasing and acceptable, for His glory.

And yes, God will say:

"Well done, good and faithful servant…Come and share your master’s happiness!” – Matthew 25:21.

Stay Blessed!