I drip with sweat from every pore as I labor in my garden this summer, knowing that with every detoxifying droplet, I am creating a thing of beauty.

Time in my vegetable and flower beds has produced (see how I did that?) thoughts on buds. Every plant has that beginning stage of growth usually represented by a bud or a flower. Buds are also partially opened flowers or leaves. Humans start as an embryo while birds begin their lifecycle as an egg.

What fascinates me is that each bud is the entire flower tightly curled up. In the case of roses, the flower has yet to develop into the full blossom it will once be. That fullness is its future potential. The bud foretells the future of the beauty yet to come. In the case of cucumbers, yellow flowers preview the appearance of fruit because most vegetables produce flowers in order to form an edible product. Peas, beans, and pumpkins are examples. So when you cut these flowers, you don’t get the food.

What is the spiritual significance of buds and budding, if any, Kathryne?

The Bible addresses buds and budding in several ways. First, let’s look at Numbers 17:8-11:

“The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds. ⁹ Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the Lord’s presence to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each of the leaders took his own staff.

¹⁰ The Lord said to Moses, “Put back Aaron’s staff in front of the ark of the covenant law, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die.” ¹¹ Moses did just as the Lord commanded him.”

Song of Songs 6:11 tells us, “I went down to the grove of nut trees
    to look at the new growth in the valley, to see if the vines had budded or the
to see if the vines had budded or the pomegranates were in bloom.
¹² Before I realized it, my desire set me next to my beloved Prince sitting in His royal chariot.

The Shulamite maiden (us- the Bride of Christ) went into the orchards of the King where growth and maturity occur to check on the progress of those under her shepherding care. She wanted to see if hearts were opening. Were the budding vines producing new growth? The Passion Translation puts verse 11 this way, “Has their springtime of passionate love arrived?”

Song of Songs 7:11-13 mentions buds, only this time with respect to our agape love development. “11 Come, my beloved, let us go to the countryside,
    let us spend the night in the villages.
¹² Let us go early to the vineyards
    to see if the vines have budded,
if their blossoms have opened,
    and if the pomegranates are in bloom—
    there I will give you my love.
¹³ The mandrakes send out their fragrance,
    and at our door is every delicacy,
both new and old, that I have stored up for you, my beloved.

Our journey in this life is either as a citizen of the Kingdom of God or life outside the gates of His Kingdom rule. As a sojourner, we are on a pilgrimage that does not settle for an abiding place on earth (Watchman Nee) rather we pass with Him from village to village, journeying with Jesus on a quest for lost or maimed sheep, searching for signs of fruit. The tiniest measure of life in the smallest and most tender plants draws our interest. Prior to the Shulamite maiden’s deliverance from a life of self-consideration, she could not perceive any fruit in others unless it bore her particular brand mark. Now she sees that pleasant fruits are a vast variety, not one species only. There are many kinds of buds in the Lord’s vineyard. There are new fruits and old and she recognizes them because she has developed a spirit of discernment to differentiate between what is new and what is old. The company of those who receive the Lord Jesus is very large and although one company, we all do not bear the same fruit. Our buds are unique to us. Selah.

Our choice in life is whether we dig into God’s Word plus devote time to intimacy to allow the budding virtues our Abba Father placed within us to develop into full spiritual maturity. They can sprout but die only partially developed. The verse in Numbers seventeen reminds us that the staff had not only sprouted but budded, blossomed, and produced almonds. Four distinct stages of development are evident.

My prayer and earnest desire for you, my reader friend and brother or sister in Christ is that your buds of divine desire increase to passionate levels that bring you next to your beloved Prince, sitting with Him in His royal chariot. May you and Jesus be lifted up together!

Categories: beauty Bride of Christ Gardens God's Word Inspiration Kingdom of God Love Nature Parables Song of Songs

Tagged as: budding buds Christianity devotional garden inspiration garden thoughts inspiration Kate Leach writer meaning of buds in the Bible Song of Songs on buds spiritual potential

Kathryne

Christian author and inspirational speaker of truth that makes the darkness tremble. Author of two non-fiction books at https://www.instagram.com/tattooedking_book/