Abscissa Virescit

Abscissa Virescit means “Cut me down and I grow again!”

Abscissa – from the Latin verb which means to ‘cut off’ or ‘remove‘.
Virescit – from the Latin verb to turn green.

I came across this motto or statement of belief some years ago when I was under human and then demonic attack through negative thoughts brought about by the words of one believer who doesn‘t seem to believe in forgiveness and reconciliation! At the time then it was a Rhema word from the Lord to encourage me and to stand tall in the face of adversity. The Lord had clearly brought this Latin phrase across my path and it spoke so clearly to me of a picture of Himself, Israel, the Church and each person who goes through a trial and testing or tribulation. You can cut the Vine or the Olive Tree down to the ground but the Root will see the tree grow again. Our Lord Jesus was resurrected, Israel will be saved, ‘the Gates of Hell will not prevail against His Church’ and ‘greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world’.

When a believer turns on you and goes into flesh mode they are clearly no longer in discipleship mode. One of my sayings is that the flesh will always justify the flesh when it wants to or needs to! So when a situation occurs we need to turn to the Scriptures and use Godly wisdom otherwise we too can get into flesh mode and justify ourselves, measuring back with the same measure that has been shown to us! It can be difficult when accusations are fired at you, when things are written about you, when Matthew 18 is not followed, when attempts at walking in the light with one another are refused, when attempts at personal reconciliation are ignored and even through witnesses or peacemakers. Even after years of patience it still takes two to dance as the saying goes and so if attempts to reconcile with a brother are still ignored then we must rest in God and know that our conscience is clear before Him.

It really is a grave mistake to air differences under the guise of a ministry teaching example on the worldwide web as only one side of the coin is being shown. It is totally unedifying and gives the world a very bad impression of the Faith which actually teaches brotherly love, unity and forgiveness. I have seen over the years a number of disputes put into print on the Internet that have sadly continued publicly before a watching world. Accusation and counter accusation become sour words of self righteousness, and bitterness through perceived slights. Christ taught us to turn the other cheek, to go the extra mile to forgive 70 x 7, to remain, at times, wisely silent. Yes, we must contend for the faith but we should not continually contend with one another at the expense of the Gospel and seeing souls saved. Our time is limited and should be used profitably. There are rules and instructions from the Lord regarding disputes or personality clashes. We are to learn from Israel’s mistakes or ways before the Lord (1 Corinthians 10:11 and Romans 15:4).
We can then in our faith look at any situation or person and say “you can try and cut me down but I will always grow again in my Lord and my God.”
It is so sad when believers turn on one another, they never seem to stop to think that they are indwelt and sealed by the Holy Spirit of God.
What is written in Hebrews 12:14 is to be obeyed by all believers.
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”
We have a Bema Seat to stand before and we will all give an account of our lives and so few of us should be teachers. (James 3:1).

So what sayeth the Scripture on such matters:-

Psalm 55:12-14, 16, 20, 22.

Verses 12-14. For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; then I could hide from him.
But it was you, a man my equal. My companion and my acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in the throng.

Verse 16. As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me.

Verse 20. He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him. He has broken his covenant.

Verse 22. Cast your burden on the Lord and He shall sustain you. He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

There is nothing new under the sun then (Ecclesiastes 1:9) and so what has been in the life of David will be again in ours. We have a wonderful Book of Life that has the answers to the problems of life. We are to cast our burdens on the Lord for He will continually grow us, from glory unto glory. Shalom.

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