Empty Baskets or Filled to the Brim…
In our study of recent, we have been looking at abiding in the Savior and in my last writing; we took a quick peek at the scriptures that deal with bearing fruit. In our study today, let’s examine more closely what Jesus says about those that bear fruit and how much is enough.
In John 15, we read the following; “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that bears fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me, and I in him, he will bear much fruit. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” Verses 2,5,8
In Dr. Wilkerson’s book, Secrets of the Vine, he tells a very poignant story of a person visiting a vineyard at harvest time. As they travel throughout the different terraces of vines, they notice the baskets set at the end of each row of vines. Peering into each one as they pass, they notice four distinctive levels of productivity from the corresponding vines….
EMPTY….barren vines produce no harvest
SOME FRUIT…..some work and some care produces some fruit
MORE FRUIT …. At last, hard work and some careful pruning produce a reasonable harvest….and lastly,
ABUNDANTLY FILLED TO OVERFLOWING….This is the harvest the vineyard keeper expected when he planted his vineyard.
These are the levels of abundance that God sees in the lives of His children and He is either very proud or greatly disappointed in the harvest. There should be no doubt in any follower of Jesus that God created us to bring about abundance and to produce a great harvest, so the question that faces us all….are you an empty basket or one brimming and overflowing with the fruit you have produced for your Heavenly Father? So, how to we know if we are producing the fruit in our lives that can make a heavenly difference in the life of someone else? I think the answer is quite simple...are the changes that God has wrought in your life making an impact in the lives of those who are closest to you? Are you lending a hand without being asked? Are you encouraging a fallen brother or sister in Christ with words of love and deeds of kindness? Are you telling others through your lifestyle of giving and sacrifice that following in obedience to the Holy Spirits' direction brings you closer to Jesus as you learn more each day how to abide in Him?
If so, keep up the good work? If not, don't you think it's about time you got started seeking the Lord's calling for you life in the mundane or the magnificent opportunities He provides each day for those who seek His will and trust and obey His directions.
Should you desire to learn more about the abundance that God expects from you and how He is prepared to help you breakthrough as His disciple, I challenge you to get Dr. Bruce Wilkerson’s book and dive in….your empty basket is waiting to be filled!
Living in the abundance …tending the vines,
WPQ
Poem for the day...
If you are living for the Master
By working diligently each day.
And you're planting in His vineyard
So good crops will come your way.
Remember Christ is the Vine Dresser
And sometimes He will take the shears;
To trim away the dead wood
Of your failures and your fears.
For He knows that in so doing
He will see new growth and more.
And your baskets with a bumper crop
Will overflow like ne'er before!
WPQ © April 2018
No comments:
Post a Comment