From John 15:2, 4b and Jer. 13:17..."He trims clean every branch that produces fruit, so that it will produce even more fruit....You cannot produce fruit unless you stay joined to me...If you are too proud to listen, I will weep alone."
One, we cannot produce "fruit" if we are not closely joined to Jesus Christ.
Two, the Holy Spirit strips away what is not "good" for the production of fruit and trims the branches that did produce fruit so that the branch will bear more of the good fruit. This is meant to imply the things we choose to do and think is under the "care" of the Holy Spirit and He is watchful over our thinking and acts It also implies that He will "trim" what we do that is hurtful to the work of the Lord.
Three, if I am proud--too proud to listen, such as, if my own spirit rejects what the Holy Spirit within me wants me to hear, I will cause harm and dishonor to God and His people who will then have cause to weep and be ashamed because of me. I will be separated from God and His people.
These are the things the Scripture tells us. Whew!
Lord, help me and each one reading this who wills it, to listen to your Holy Spirit and to rejoice at the stripping away of those things that dishonor you and your people. Yet, let me love and forgive myself. I pray that all might be freed of that which is "self." Amen.
This is a huge task it seems to me, but one that will be pleasing to God. I hope you are with me!
Jo INMN
No comments:
Post a Comment