APPLE TREES DON’T EAT APPLES!

“And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?” Romans 11:23, 24. (NKJV).

“Three kinds of apples on one tree, Grandfather?”

“Yep. We’ll have a mini-orchard in our back yard, Timmy.

“Bought this apple stock with Red Delicious grafted on.” He pointed to the leaf buds.

“Looks funny. They’ll grow?”

“Of course. Ready to get to work?” Timmy nodded.

“We’ll graft Gala, and Golden Delicious apples. Hold the Gala limb for me, will you?” He turned, his voice floating over his shoulder. “The new limb is called a scion.” Timmy leaned close, watched as Grandfather cut the limb on two sides, shaped like a tongue.

He pushed the scion in the prepared place. “Now the parafilm. The tape seals in the moisture. Keeps the graft from drying out.”

Timmy held the branch steady while Grandfather applied the tape. “Now. The label.” Timmy handed it to him. “Done.”

“When will we have apples to eat?” 

Grandfather chuckled. “Not for a while. The graft has to take, grow and become part of the tree. When we see leaf buds, we’ll know it’s growing.”

“Will they ripen at the same time?”

“Not necessarily. The plan is to have apples from mid-summer to late fall—to have plenty of fruit.”

“Yum.” 

Grandfather put his hand on Timmy’s shoulder. “This is what happens when we give our lives to the Lord. The Lord Jesus is the root stock. We’re the scions. He grafts us in. Some of us take longer than others as we rely on His strength.”

Timmy blinked. “That’s what happened when I asked the Lord Jesus into my life?” He chewed his lip. 

“What was my part?” 

“You asked Him in and He began the grafting.” 

Timmy blinked. “He’s making me like Him? But I still mess up, Grandfather.” 

“Just remember. He’s the One who’s working and as He produces the fruit, you share it with others.” 

“Like an apple tree doesn’t eat apples? Just gives them away?” 

“Absolutely, son. Absolutely.” He hugged his grandson.

Kingdom Thinking. The Lord Jesus took me, grafted me into Him, the tree of life. He supplies my nourishment, my life source. He promises never to leave nor forsake me. He loves me with an everlasting love. Would you like to be grafted into His family? Come to Him. He loves you.