| In many places of the bible, you've probably read the scriptures of how the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life (Proverbs 11:30). How about the scripture, the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22). Well, in this section of my Web Site, I would like to open your eyes to see how the Lord is the vine and we are the branches. I would like to give you the opportunity to see that a branch cannot live without the vine, and therefore we cannot live without Christ. I want to challenge you to be a branch that blossoms plump, juicy fruits every season in the Lord's perfect timing. By their fruit you will recognize them (Matthew 7:16). In the Book of Matthew, Jesus is speaking of how a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit (Matthew 7:18). In Psalm, David writes of how a man will be blessed...And because he delights in the Lord, he is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither...Whatever he does prospers (Psalm 1:3). These are some amazing scriptures of how each season of our life is a new chance to bear fruit. And when we are seeking the Lord's face and living in His precence, this is the time when we will be best in bearing fruit. Over the past few months, I was intrigued by an incredible metaphor describing our place and God's place. The metaphor went something like this. Just as the keeper of a vineyard gaurds his trees and the fruit they bear, so does God watch over us. Why? Because we are His branches. Now, when asked, the keeper of a vineyard does not cut off any vines that refuse to bear fruit. But instead, he gently lifts the vine out of the mud and dirt which it has soiled, and washes this branch with water. The branch is then left on the tree and fruit finally begins to produce in the next season. Isn't that funny how we so closely resemble the vineyard's fruit and God resembles the keeper of it all? Well, the point is, God is calling you right now to begin bearing fruit on His tree. He asks that you return to Him and live your life full of holiness. Are you ready to bear His fruit? "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last..." John 15:16 {home} All rights reserved. Courtesy of Patrick Levis: Our brother in Christ, 2001-2003. |
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| Photo Courtesy of NeedHim.org |
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