2016-09-30
Good Morning Dear Ones,
You’ll remember that last week the word fruit as used in COL 1: 10 is defined as to bring forth deeds, from the original Greek. Looking at it from the backdrop of the cross, vertically, it means growth in worship and spiritual maturity, and horizontally, it means a demonstration of God’s grace. Of course, the most common way the word, fruit, is used is as it was in GN 1: 11, “Then God said, ‘Let the land produce vegetation, seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds. And it was so.” This pleased God. The figurative meaning, first given, is supported in the clear description of Jesus Christ in COL 1: 16, “For by Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or power of rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him.”
For a full understanding of the word, fruit, it helps to look at the interactions between mankind and God through history. The process begins with hearing the truth of Jesus Christ in NT times. It has its roots as seen in RO 10: 9-10, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Long ago, God makes clear He acts on His intentions, as in NU 17: 8 where Aaron’s staff buds, producing almonds. The story of how king Sennacharib of Assyria threatened Israel and frightened king Hezekiah demonstrates God’s intentions once again. In IS 36: 16, Sennacharib falsely promises peace. “Do not listen to Hezekiah. This is with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and fig tree and drink water from his own cistern.” In the interim, Hezekiah prayed to God for deliverance. In the Lord’s reply to this prayer relayed by Isaiah, in IS 37: 30, He says, “This year you will eat what grows by itself, and the second year what springs from that. But in the third year sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit.” Then in (36-37), “Then the angels of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all dead bodies! Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.” Shortly afterward, Sennacherib was worshipping to his god in the temple there, and he was put to death by two of his sons (38).
We live in an age when all of Israel’s enemies—the Selucids, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Edomites, Ammorites, Moabites, Torquemada and the Moors, and the Nazis—are all gone, and yet Israel still exists. Israel, in accordance with God’s will, is not only reunited, but has seen its nationhood restored (in accordance with prophecies beforehand) and the beginning of the end of dyaspora (the scattering of the Jews). IS 46: 9-10, “Remember the former things, those of long ago; ‘I am God, and there is no other. I am God, and there is none like Me. I make known the end form the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.’ I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’” A tree is known by its fruit. IS 65: 8-9, “This is what the Lord says: ‘As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes and men say, ‘Don’t destroy it, there is yet some good in it.’ So will I do in behalf of My servants; I will not destroy them all I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah those who will possess My mountains; My chosen people will inherit them and there will My servants live.’”
PRAYER: O Lord, as Your chosen people, we acknowledge our great need to learn the lessons mankind’s history has for us. In the course of this effort, we will also learn to know You, Your will for us, and Your heart much better. You are a loving and gracious God, One Who hears our prayers and answers them. We cannot forget the lesson of king Jehoshaphat’s obedience and reverence for You at the time the Hebrews under him were threatened by a combined army of Ammorites, Edomites, and Moabites. Jehoshaphat led the people in prayer first, and obeyed You despite his fright. You turned these armies against each other, and none of them harmed the Israelites [2 CH 20: 1-30]. Your righteous use of Your power to make Your will so and to benefit those who love You is unparalleled. Your wisdom is always made available to believers. We thank and praise You for never abandoning us and always loving us unconditionally the way You do. We are forever grateful, forever in awe of You, and forever offering Your wisdom to us. We acknowledge our need to appeal to You for guidance and leadership in our lives. And, we offer up this prayer in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: I am led to continue this digression into the history of God’s interactions with mankind, so that the supremacy of Jesus Christ as described in COL 1: 15-20 can be better understood. Fruit matters to our lives. Our physicians and dieticians want us to eat the fruits of various trees for the sake of physical nutrition. God wants us to not only understand the spiritual meaning of the word, fruit, but to also produce it in our lives. My experience is that there is pure joy that comes from serving others. We need to pray for them, see to all their needs, appeal to God to heal their wounds (physical, mental, emotional), and help them grow into healthy, balanced, and spiritual people. Our Lord, in MT 28: 19-20, has commanded us to spread the truth of the Gospel and promised to be with us “to the end of the age.” We have been built to be able to serve on missions, evangelize, and in every way be disciples of Christ. There are as many ways to do Kingdom work and produce fruit as there are talents God gives us and ways to bless others around us. We, Dear Ones, need to remember 1 PET 2: 9, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” Praise and thanks be to Him forever!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2016. All Rights Reserved.
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