Tuesday, May 8, 2012

God Engages the Vineyard

Scripture: John 15:2
"Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.

Insights:  In the mid to late 18th century there were a growing number of people who openly expressed their belief as deism.  In some ways today we call that mindset agnostic.  Basically, the belief was God was like a watch builder and the world was the watch.  After He completed the making of the watch, He wound it up, put it on a shelf and then let it go.  From the agnostic perspective, we recognize there had to be a watch Maker, but there is no way we can know Him.  As a result, we don’t even try.  This type of false theology or philosophy flies squarely in opposition to today’s verse.  In today’s verse God is very much actively involved in the world.  He has not just wound it up and let it go, He is pruning branches that bear fruit and He is taking away branches that don’t.  This truth ought to give us a great deal of peace, joy and satisfaction in knowing this very real and personal God.  As we have learned in Henry Blackaby’s material Experiencing God, this activity of God IS His invitation for us to join Him.  The problem is we live in a world that is so fast paced we often times don’t recognize God’s work.  Beloved, I would encourage you to slow down and be intentional about looking for God’s invitation to You.  Take some time today and praise God for His gracious work He is presently doing around you.  Ask Him to open your eyes to see the work.  Ask Him to open your ears to hear His voice.  Ask Him for the courage to join Him in His mission.  Last night at the revival at Mt. Pleasant BC, Jamie Pruett preached out of Isaiah 6:1-9.  He concluded with this point: God is not just giving an invitation to a select group of people.  If we have worshipped Him, He is inviting us to be sent by Him.  At that point Jamie took us to Ephesians 2:8-10 and emphasized verse 10 which states, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Beloved, recognize God’s activity and join Him in His work, because you were created to do.

Questions:
  1. Have you thanked God lately for His gracious involvement in the world?
  2. Do you slow down enough to recognize God’s activity?
Prayer: Lord, my life is so hectic and fast paced.  In that speed Lord, I often times do not recognize You or hear Your voice.  Forgive me please for this self-centered perspective of life.  Turn my heart to You and open my eyes to see Your work.  Then, Lord, please give me the courage to join You in Your activity.  Amen.

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