ISaving or Smiting

I know that most of you share my love for Parables and Miracles. There are so many of them in Jesus’ life. We translate them into our own life experiences. We should note that while every one of those performed by Him were acts of goodness and mercy, one, however stands out as a singular act of judgement. In that, it has even more profound importance. Jesus speakes; “I am the True Vine, and my father is the Vinedresser. Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He cuts away. He repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more.”

It is interesting, when Jesus had many opportunities to condemn and destroy, and the power to do it he did not. Yet, He would chose failure to (by interpretation) use our gifts and be fruitful, is condemnable.

In the case of “the barren fig tree” the bearing of fruit preceeded the development of foliage. There was none. The Lord arrived there in hunger, and lingered to make His point. Surely in all of His power he could just make the fruit appear. Had he not done that with wine, bread, manna, fish and healing? He always brought life where there was desperation.

When there was a challenge by Satan to “turn bread into stone” to satisfy His own hunger, He would not. He never used His power to provide for Himself. He depended upon others for His sustinance; as it was with the woman at the well who gave Him drink. He gave her peace and forgiveness.

The lesson is, be it miracle or parable; “How does it fare a man or nation when God comes looking for fruits of righeousness, and finds nothing but abundant leaves, boasting fruitfulness, but empty of substance or promise? Dr. Herbert Lockyer concludes; “There are plenty of leaves of religious activities and performances, but so little of the fruit redounding to God’s glory. Failure to improve privilege entails the removal of privelge itself. John 15; “If the branch fails to bear fruit, it is taken away” . Revelations 2; ” The Lamp which fails to shine is taken out of it’s place. Matthew 7; “Trees that do not bear fruit are hewn down and buried”.

We are all given unique gifts that are to be used for His Glory. Some will be trees, or lamps, or plantings yeilding the bright or delicious; predictable in their pupose. The sin is professing to be what we are not, or to have yeilded when we have not. Speak not of what we have done for God, lest we have done it. And, even in that, keep it secret between ourselves and our Maker who has given us the seed (the gift), and fully anticipates our fruitfulness.