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Grapes on the vineFriday, February 26, 2016
Matthew 21:43 Jesus spent time with many groups in many places around the Sea of Galilee. He didn't exclude anyone. When someone asked him for help, he helped, without hesitation. He didn't ask why. When Jesus interacted with someone, I think he looked into their eyes. He certainly listened more than he spoke, but when he did speak, people listened. So producing fruit means listening to God, and then listening to people, and then doing what it is they need. As best I can. Can I have a schedule? Or should I ask God to show me his work for me each day moment by moment? Does it matter which? Some of both? This is just the first of several questions I have for God. I like the questions better than any of my available answers. But thinking about the questions, I always run the danger of looking at myself rather than looking out at God and others. No doubt Jesus' Father asked Jesus to look within, and he asks me to do the same. "Look and see what you have already received from Me, and follow it." So, I can freely examine myself when God calls me to do so. Listen to God, and you will be told what to do. Hmmm. God's language seems mostly to be silence. But silence can be golden, or pregnant, or dead. God's silence is never dead. Listen in the silence, like Jesus did. Do what you hear, like Jesus did. Protect the reputation of your Father, like Jesus did. These are parts of producing fruit in the Kingdom of God. Lord, I might be a small and lonely grape clutching to the vine, but I am bursting with flavor because you made me. So give me sunshine, give me rain, and let me grow. I want to be what you made me to be, giving, receiving, fruitful and productive. Simple to follow you if I'm a grape. Let it be. |
In the morning Jesus prayed. And in the afternoon he listened, fed, clothed, healed, visited, and talked with others about the Kingdom of God. Although he never exactly said, "Look at me, do what I'm doing!" that's what we need to do, if we're going to even slightly understand the idea of producing "fruit."