"Thy people also shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified" (Isa. 60:21).  

     We think much about our planting, but let us think, firstly, about the Lord's planting that we might understand why our Lord was so well qualified to be our "Master Gardener."

      Our Lord learned what it was, and what it took, to be "a living plant" in the eyes of God; He learned obedience by the things that He suffered (Heb. 5:8).

     If trees are to live they must be planted in a hole deep enough and wide enough to accommodate the spreading root system.  Oh, the breath and the depth of the hole that God had to dig for His dear Son that we might be rooted and grounded in love (Eph. 3:17-19).  It was, and always will be, the deepest and darkest hole that any man could be buried in - it was hell itself (Acts 2:31). 

     God planted His Son in this hole so that there could be a tree of life - a tree that would never die, that He might graft us into it.  That tree is Christ, our Lord, He Is the root, the   branch, and the stem, the good olive tree (Isa. 11:l, 10, Zech. 3:8, 6:12, Rom. 11:24).

     Dear Christian, you may be "being dug up" right now and feel as though this can't be the plan of God for you, but look at the Lord and see how He was "dug up" for you; dug up by the lash, the thorns, the blows, the nails, and the spear.  Yet this was the Father's plan so that you and I might have life and live it forever with Him.  

     Let us not think that we have a better plan for His garden.  He is the Master Gardener and His plan is perfect.  Let us not rebel against the color, shape, or form that He chooses for us.  Surely He knows best!

     We are the branch of His planting, the work of His hands, that He may be glorified.   Blessed be His name!