Grapes or Briars

S – Luke 6:44

 

‘Each tree is recognised by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briars.’

 

 

O – When we need to have the right outcomes in our lives there is the need to ensure the correct seed has been sown. It seems there is a human expectation that we want the benefits of what would be good fruit; figs and grapes. However there is not the recognition that the benefits of these fruits only come from what is grown or cultivated. Good fruit such as figs and grapes will only come from that which has been diligently cultivated.

 

A – What is cultivated and nurtured in my life is what is going to define me. There are many times when I want or need to reach for a spiritual fig or grape. These are the outworking of blessing or my inner beliefs. These can be in times of difficulty, weakness or desperation when I need the benefit or flavour of such spiritual fruit. I can never benefit from these spiritual fruits if I have not cultivated them in my life. The importance of nurturing what is in my heart and not facing the disappointment or pain for neglecting to cultivate a Kingdom spirit or have Kingdom deposits in my life. The awesome pictures given to Daniel bring home to me the importance of what I am planting or nurturing continually into my life. Briars and Thornbushes do not sustain life or produce fruit. So much of what is around me will not give me the answers or sustain me in ‘non understandable’ times. It’s only what I have deposited deep in my heart will give me the wisdom and understanding when natural wisdom will be lacking. Many are going to thorn bushes and briars for answers expecting a grape or fig. I need to ensure my fruit comes from knowing my God and what eternal fruits he plants within my heart.

 

P – Lord let me not be deceived into trying to pick fruit from that which has not been cultivated. Let your truths and word be planted deep in my heart so that good fruit is evident and enduring.

'Rocks or Rivers'

S- Psalm 105: 41

 

‘He opened the Rock, and water gushed out; like a river it flowed in the desert.’

 

O – This verse comes in the midst of many declarations as to what God has done in bringing about the liberation of His people. They were a people who had been surrounded by the miraculous and the delivering power of God. Every action was miraculous and a revelation of his presence, provision and purpose. Here He opens a rock! Was it an obstacle? The immovable? The unlikely or the unexpected? Irrespective He opened it and something totally unexpected occurred in the outcome. It was more than just a functional provision of water to quench a thirst. It was an unexpected flow of water that went beyond the needs of an individual and had a changing effect on the environment around them. I’m sure there was never the expectation that from a Rock such a powerful change and influence could flow.

 

A – I can never stop expecting God to do the unexpected from the most unlikely! God is able to open up anything in circumstances or an event for something powerful and miraculous to flow. I certainly cannot open up a rock for a river to flow and to change and environment. I can though carry an expectation and belief that he is able to do such because of who He is and His desire to provide and manifest power. I can only see rocks as immovable and obstacles to go around or need to be removed. God sees them as opportunities to be ‘opened’ for a greater and powerful result beyond any limitations. I wonder how many rocks I have been looking at and believing them to be immovable? He is the one who opens up the immovable, and obstacles of circumstance, for a powerful outcome. I need to see these obstacles as opportunities for the miraculous.

 

P – Lord I thank you that you are the great ‘Rock Opener’ – Help me to not see obstacles as immovable or intimidating. I thank you that you want to come and bring the miraculous out of that which I can only see as immovable.

                                                                                                                            

'Hammer and Nails'

S – Jeremiah 10:14

 

‘They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with Hammer and Nails so it will not totter’

 

O – Jeremiah brings a message of contrast between what people create as a source of strength and focus for admiration and worship. ‘Hammer and Nails’ are the tools used for fixing. It is a resource that man uses in limitation to build and to make strong. It is the present, the pragmatic that can focus on keeping something from falling over or to make it look good. No matter how good or great the craftsman – the hammer and nails process cannot create Life as the magnificence of God the Creator and Sustainer. Jeremiah was addressing their belief that in their ‘Hammer and Nails’ they had the ability to fix or create anything of strength or durability.

 

A – The ‘Hammer and Nails’ is a challenge to me to not rely on the pragmatism of my own methods, insights or ‘fix it’ in the Kingdom. I know how easy and often I can resort to ‘quick fixes’ another nail here or there to keep it together or to give the appearance of strength. This takes me into a wrong thought and belief that my hands can bring strength and building into the Kingdom. The Kingdom is not built on my pragmatism or 'fix it' mentality. Jeremiah brings to me the right perspective in verse 6; ‘No one is like you O Lord, you are great and your name is mighty in power’ – when I consider the mighty power of God at work in His Kingdom, my hammer and nails start to fall into right perspective. I think this is showing me less of my works by hand and more of allowing the mighty power of God to work.

 

P – Lord, I see so much of my own ‘Hammer and Nails’ attitude in my serving. Make me to be more aware of my limitations to fix, to build and make strong. In your Kingdom let there be more of your power and less of my ‘fix it’ or keep it ‘looking good’ mentality.

'Wholesome Thinking'

S – 2 Peter 3: 1-2

 

……. This is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as a reminder to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the Holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Saviour through the Apostles.

 

O – I see that ‘wholesome thinking’ is an attitude that needs to be kept continually before us in the journey. Peter felt the need to emphasise this through both his letters and address this culture. It seems that Wholesome Thinking needs to be continually addressed as it can easily regress into small, selfish, dark, toxic and unwholesome. Humanity seems to be incapable of keeping a check on this thinking unless two powerful disciplines are exercised – to recall the words spoken by the prophets and to recall the words and commands given by Jesus. Wholesome Thinking is only maintained when I recall the words of the Lord. It is His word that lifts me to a different level for focus and priority.

 

A – There are so many lesser things I can put my thoughts to; how easy and often do I default to ‘unwholesome thinking.’ This thinking takes me to small and even dark places. There is only one way for me to counter it. It doesn’t come from techniques or different circumstances. It comes from recalling the words of Jesus and what has been spoken. These words then take me to a different place in my thinking and focus. I need this antidote to keep my thinking wholesome and in line with God’s word.

 

P – Lord, I thank you for your words that lift, correct and bring wholeness – help me to be a recaller and not a reactor in my thoughts and actions.

'Calling on a Father'

 

S – 1 Peter 1: 17

 

‘Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.’

 

O – Peter is reminding me as to whom I am calling on. I am calling on a loving Father who acts and responds to the affairs of men the way a Father responds – impartially, no favouritism, no exclusions an equality and justice that comes from a heart of relationship. Peter wasn’t saying you call on God or a God. He no doubt remembered the significant teaching Jesus gave them all when he taught them how to pray. – Our Father who art in heaven. He then goes on to instruct – don’t let this privilege of access and relationship be diminished with familiarity or be dishonoured. This relationship will determine how we live. While I have access and relationship to a Father, I also live with a reverent fear and understanding of who He is.

 

A – I can never forget or fail to appreciate that I call on a Father. That is my privilege – it is why Jesus died so that I could become part of God’s family. When I call on Him as Father, then I enter into the protection, the affection and confidence of that relationship. This is just not another name for God. My calling on a father takes me beyond just calling out to a generic being, into calling out to a relationship where love and connection is ready to be poured out to me and embraced. The way I live then shows whether I am honouring or dishonouring Him as my Father. I would never think to dishonour my earthly father in any behaviour. How I then need to appreciate the importance of honouring Heavenly Father in the way I live.

 

P – Thank you that I can call upon a Father, not just a generic being who I speak about, but a Father who loves in relationship security and honour.