By Mavis M. duCille
Scripture reading: Isaiah 5:1, 2, 7
In different cultures, and at different times in the history of the world, men have changed their basis of assessing value. For example, in the time of Job, riches were counted by the amount of cattle and servants one had. We, therefore, have the tendency to think that the things which are precious to us are also precious to God. But this is not true, unless we have the mind of Christ.
As man would now count gold in this modern age, even so does God count His people, and their increase SPIRITUALLY is a precious thing to His heart. Any other form of prosperity outside of spiritual prosperity means very little to God.
The picture which we see in Isaiah 5:1, 2 and 7 depicts the very heart of God, and the whole purpose for which He made man: “…the men of Judah, His pleasant plant.”
James 5:7b, “Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.”
The fruit comes before the harvest. God’s intent and purpose from His first planting of Adam and Eve was to bring forth His glory in the earth. “Be fruitful and multiply” and have “dominion over the earth” – fruitful, bringing forth godliness, and dominion in righteousness and holiness, not worldly dominion. God tended His vineyard from Adam to Enoch, through the age of the Law and the Prophets: Moses and Elijah, to Jesus Christ.
What was lost in Adam was regained in Christ. He showed perfect and complete subjection to the will of the Father in all things. The first manifestation of this restoration and showing forth of the perfect will of the Father was seen on the mount in His three-phased temptation.
1. Making stone into bread – type of which was to satisfy the human nature.
2. “All this power will I give thee” – the craving after power.
3. “Cast thyself down” – self-exaltation and satisfying of ego – showmanship.
Jesus was put to the test, but stood on the authority of the Word and overcame in each case, as Satan could find nothing in Him. In Jesus’ dealing with people, His love and compassion, His care for the little children, He pleased the Father in all things. In Him, we see perfect fruit bearing which pleases God. There was no place that Jesus went where there was a lack of this showing forth of fruit unto God in His life.
As He was in the earth, so are we to be. Through the effectual working of the Spirit, fruit bearing takes on a new dimension wherein the soul of man is transformed from his vile nature and brought into conformity to the image of Christ.
Jesus Christ, our Lord, established a church built upon the apostles and prophets. He laid down all the necessary foundations for its continuation as a fruit bearing institution, but so many churches have been deceived, even in the concept of what fruit bearing is. One denomination believes it is winning souls, and another that it is the gifts of the Spirit. ABUNDANT FRUIT is abundantly exuding the life and character of Jesus Christ in our daily living.
The whole creation is waiting in pain for that manifestation of the church, of that abundance of life in Christ coming forth, but individuals have to be delivered from “the foxes” (little or big), the “caterpillars and cankerworms” which destroy the vine and retard the increase.
John 15:1-2, 4-5, 7-8:
- “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
- Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
- Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
- I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
- If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
- Herein is my Father glorified, that YE BEAR MUCH FRUIT; so shall ye be my disciples.”
“The fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE…” Galatians 5:22-23.
“For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.” Ephesians 5:9.
(Excerpt from Nuggets for the Needy, pages 100-103)
Thought for today:The last two scriptures give us an insight into what the increase which God expects is, and how they are obtained – not in our good deeds for God or our imaginations, but in GOODNESS, RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUTH.
Sonlight Devotional 