Man are we getting rain and more rain! I thank the Father however, because I have been in a drought and I prefer rain to that.... but I do miss seeing the sun. Fall is setting in and the gleams of winter are already in the air.
Remember to enjoy the cool breezes and the colors changing and take the time to praise the Creator for both. This may be a hard time for you survivors out there but GOD is still in control! Do not give into the fear that this season can evoke.....if you choose to live in fear then you will die in fear....and I am not writing this blog and putting out my testimony for any of you to die, but to find life....peace.... hope.... and love through our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. The Real Jesus!!!
Love & prayers,
Judy
THE CHOICEST VINE
We have been talking about the adverse effect that remaining wild and in an undisciplined state will have on character, purpose and fruit. In Isaiah we see God trying to woo His undisciplined people back to Himself. He even devised a song for His beloved people concerning His precious vineyard. In this case, Israel was being referred to as His vineyard. He had lovingly planted this nation of people in a fruitful land, the Promised Land. He referred to this land as a fruitful hill. The hill reminds us that these people were preferred and exalted over the pagan nations. Since they were exalted, this field was to serve as a means for God to admire, preserve and honor His work among them.
It tells us how the Lord fenced Israel in. In other words, He dug the ground to plant the vineyard. He chose the choicest vine to ensure its survival, health and fruit. He even built a tower in the midst of it to watch over it.
When we think about the tower in the people of Israel ’s midst, we could relate it to the Law that truly set Israel apart. It even could be the temple that distinguished these people’s calling and purpose to worship and glorify Jehovah God. However, we know that the Bible refers to God as our high tower. Clearly God placed Himself among the people through the Law, as well as placed His name among them as a testimony through the temple.
It was also stated that a winepress was established in their midst. The winepress could be the Law that clearly established judgment among them. However, the reason God put a winepress in the vineyard was to bring forth the fruit of the grape.
As we consider this picture, we can see how the Church also makes up the vineyard. In the middle the vineyard God placed the choicest Vine, Jesus Christ. The Living Waters were uncapped to flow through His vineyard. The Word of God was set forth in order to cultivate and nurture this field. Obviously, there is no reason why God’s people are not producing quality fruit that will bring honor to Him, unless they are still maintaining wild dispositions that refuse to be tamed by His work.
Prayer: Lord, You have done all You can do to bring forth fruit from Your vineyard. However, as Your people, we must maintain Your life in us to ensure the quality of fruit that comes forth. Amen.
Reading: Isaiah 5:3-4
WILD GRAPES
We have been talking about those things that are untamed or wild. When we consider that which is wild, we think of those things which are not disciplined. God is clearly a God of order. He works within structure that ensures order and completeness of a matter.
In these scriptures, Isaiah is speaking to the inhabitants of Jerusalem on behalf of God. God had established a vineyard, Israel . He had invested much in this vineyard. The fruit of it was to bring glory to Him.
Instead of this vineyard producing quality grapes, it produced wild grapes. How could this be? The reality is that there was a mixture that defiled the vineyard. Without the proper structure, the vineyard produced wild grapes.
What happened to the vineyard? It is easy to figure out what the mixture involved. It involved idolatry. Idolatry is nothing more than man’s imagination. He imagines that a particular tree, a grove, some dough, a creature, or the sun has spiritual value. It represents something to him. Granted, the tree may look a certain way, the grove may give a certain impression, and the dough may be shaped a certain way, but that does not make it a god. It is man that gives an idol an identity that requires worship. As the Apostle Paul stated, it is vain imaginations that exalt themselves against the real knowledge of God. These imaginations are nothing more than fantasy that opposes, redefines or demotes the true God of heaven.
We must discipline our perception of God to avoid idolatry. We can exalt any god according to our own liking, but there is only one God who can save us from eternal judgment.
Prayer: Lord, we need to discipline our thoughts by bringing them into captivity to You. Lord, I know if it comes from my imagination, it is not of You. Amen.
©2008 Rayola Kelley, Gentle Shepherd Ministries. Permission is granted for non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.
http://www.gentleshepherd.com/
Questions or comments welcome. Email: http://us.mc800.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=ministry@gentleshepherd.com
No comments:
Post a Comment