Nip it, nip it, nip it

I believe it was Barney Fife who made the phrase popular "Nip it in the Bud". But the idea came much earlier. Crude beginnings in scientific Horticulture practiced the phrase at least as early as the 14 Century. In good growing seasons gardeners would have an excess number of blooms, and blossoms. It became necessary to pinch off the majority in order that those which were left could produce large fruit. This would improve the quality of the garden produced, but was devastating to the individual buds. When a bud was nipped off no fruit was produced at that point.

Honestly it seems as though many areas of potential fruit are being nipped off by God himself. Of course what He does is always right, don't get me wrong. All my life I have hosted, preached at and participated in youth meetings, looking for a young harvest. But truth be known, the greatest youth meetings I have ever been in were not scheduled. I have seen God sweep through a service where young people were the overwhelming majority that testified, and worshiped. I have seen God move to save 4, 5, and 6 young persons in a service that was never ordained by man as a youth service. I'm not saying youth meetings are wrong or that VBS is outdated (I believe VBS is the churches greatest mission, at home or abroad). Fact is if God doesn't meet with us in a powerful way, it makes little difference if it's Youth Day, Old-timers Day, Bring a friend Day, Communion service, Revival Day or Campmeeting Day it will profit nothing.

In a nutshell, God chooses sometimes not to overwhelm us with blooms in order to produce something worth having. I am not interested in winning 1,000's and 990 go astray or quit. Give me 10 and 10 years from now still have 10 growing and prospering, and feeding others in the Lords name. We have to much shallowness in the church today and it may be because we have started looking at the big numbers of blossoms and produced weak, anemic fruit with no quality. Preacher don't be afraid of letting that secular crowd walk out - it may just produce a better atmosphere in your church for a stronger quality of fruit. Some sins (whether they like it or leave) you must nip it, nip it, nip it.