God Cuts Down and God Makes Grow
“And all the trees will know that it is I, the LORD, who cuts the tall tree down and makes the short tree grow tall. It is I who makes the green tree wither and gives the dead tree new life. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do what I said!” Ezekiel 17:24 NLT
Sometimes we may come to think that our own strength, skills, or talents are what have brought us to the place of success where we are, forgetting that all true promotion and growth come from heaven. This passage reminds us of God’s sovereignty over every aspect of our lives and ministry, showing us that He has absolute control to lift up the humble and humble the proud, ensuring that His will is always fulfilled just as He has promised.
- Recognize the source of our growth It is essential to understand that any level of influence, success, or ministry we reach is a gift from God. He is the one who makes the small tree grow, so all the glory belongs to Him and not to our own capacities or human merits.
- The danger of spiritual pride When a tree becomes too tall in its own opinion and fills with pride, it runs the great risk of being cut down. Pride leads us away from dependence on God and leads us to mistakenly trust in our own strength and intellect.
- God gives life to what seems dry Even in the seasons where we feel stagnant, dry, or fruitless, the Lord has the supernatural power to give us life again. Our hope does not reside in our circumstances, but in the life-giving power of His Spirit.
- Maintain an attitude of humility To remain useful and fruitful tools in the Lord’s hands, we must always maintain a humble heart. By acknowledging our limitations and our total dependence on Him, we ensure that He can continue to exalt us in due time.
- The certainty of His promises The passage ends with a firm declaration about the divine authority that gives us complete peace. We can rest with total assurance that God’s plans and purposes for our lives will be faithfully carried out, regardless of external circumstances.
We live in a world that constantly exalts human achievements and promotes self-sufficiency, but our Christian calling is completely different. By living under the shadow of the Almighty and surrendering each of our successes at His feet, we ensure that our growth is genuine and lasting. Let us always keep our hearts rooted in His grace, knowing that He is the only master of our destiny, capable of making our inner being green again and causing us to flourish in any season of life.
“And all the trees will know that it is I, the LORD, who cuts the tall tree down and makes the short tree grow tall. It is I who makes the green tree wither and gives the dead tree new life. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do what I said!” Ezekiel 17:24 NLT
Think About It:
- In what areas of your life do you need to surrender your achievements and recognize that the growth has come solely by the grace of God?
- Identify if there is any attitude of pride in your heart that you need to change today to avoid being spiritually cut down.
- Take a time of constant prayer this week to thank God for the promises He has already fulfilled and to reaffirm your trust in those that are yet to flourish.