02/28/2021
According to the gospel of Jesus, He is the vine and we are the branches of that vine, and being branches, we are to bear the fruit. This is a beautiful image and over the years much has been said, taught, and written about the attributes of the fruit, and what it means for us to bear that fruit. However, today let’s talk about what adorns us as branches before the fruit arrives, and the role we ultimately play in bring forth this fruit... let’s behold the flowers. Not all fruit is good to eat alone, and likewise, not all flowers are beautiful, or smell sweet, but we can tell what fruit we will eventually bear by the flowers that bloom on our stems.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”
John 15:5, 8 ESV
So as we bring forth fruit we glorify God, and the more fruit we bear the greater his glory becomes. But before our fruit can germinate and grow there are the flowers we produce that must blossom, give off their aroma, and attract insects and birds to themselves, which in turn will serve as pollinators. So we must ask ourselves a few basic questions... what do our flowers look like, what do they smell like, what fruit comes forth from them, and are they successful at attracting pollinators to themselves, or do they simply attract creatures that devour their blossoms before they can bring forth any fruit at all? The Song of Solomon describes how we should tend to our blossoms... without them no fruit comes, and they are without a doubt the harbingers of the bounty, and the harvest we will bring forth.
“I went down to the nut orchard to look at the blossoms of the valley, to see whether the vines had budded, whether the pomegranates were in bloom.”
Song of Solomon 6:11 ESV
As we prepare to bring forth our fruit, and glorify God, do we overlook our flowers, and what type blooms they are? Think on this today... if your fruit is comprised of souls that you are to win and lead to Christ, then what are the flowers that proceed them? Wouldn’t they be sinners, and unrighteous souls that may never have known God, or heard the good news of Jesus Christ? Might they not be souls that have wandered or strayed? This probably seems distasteful and contrary to us as mortal men, yet here they all are... blooming on our branch, and waiting to be pollinated so that we can nourish and bear them up.
“but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8 ESV
We all want beautiful and aromatic flowers to bloom on our branches, and to easily bear their sweet fruit, but some of us are meant to produce grapes while others will bring forth mustard; some of us will produce melons, while others bring forth bitter herbs. You see, God chooses the fruit we will bring forth, and brings the pollinators to our flowers... our job is to tend to the flowers, the growing harvest, to sustain the fruit that is germinated, and to bear the weight of it as it grows.
“And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?”
Matthew 5:47 ESV
Through us comes the nutritious living water from within the earth that God has provided, and which reaches us through Jesus Christ the vine. We are a conduit through which God provides His grace to the leaves and the fruit that bend us down under their weight.
“For each will have to bear his own load.”
Galatians 6:5 ESV
So we will produce fruit, but not until our flowers have bloomed and been pollinated, and we have no choice in the type of flower, and thus fruit, that will laden our branches because a vine is a vine, and a tree is a tree, and God gives each of us our purpose in serving His will. Some will be vines, others trees, but all will bear fruit. The question is never what kind of fruit we will produce, but how prolific we will be, and how well we will bear it.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for bringing forth the blossoms that will become fruit for us to bear. Thank you Lord for using us to redeem souls by nourishing them, and lifting them up using your Word, and the gospel of Jesus. Help us Holy Father to see our blossoms as beautiful and sweet, even though we would normally find them unseemly and offensive to smell. Teach us to see as you see, and not to judge according to our sight, but yours. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who sent your Son Jesus to redeem the sick in spirit, sinners, and not to simply perfect the righteous. Praised be your name for this fruit you have made for us to bear, and the souls you have placed in our path. Great are you in mercy and grace Father, and amazing are your ways as we are led to travel them. Wash us clean with the blood of Jesus, and strengthen us as we are ladened with fruit destined for your table. Invite us to dine with you Lord, and to bring you endless glory.
“let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:7-9 ESV
Rich Forbes