Fruit and Seasons

An online sermon recently brought Psalm 1:3 back to my mind. It speaks of the righteous man: "He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers" (Psalm 1:3; ESV).

The phrase, "fruit in its season," especially caught my attention. I have to confess that sometimes I look for fruit when it is not in its season, and that discourages me. But the Lord Himself has this to say: "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing," and this: "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples" (John 15:4-5, 8; ESV).

But who is the source of this fruit? How can we bear such fruit? The Spirit is the source, as we read in Paul's letter to the Galatians: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (5:22-23; ESV).

Is there an age limit to fruitfulness? Not according to Psalm 92:12-15: "The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him" (ESV).

Abide, and be encouraged as the Spirit takes Christ's life and causes it to flow in and through you, making you fruitful in God's way and time.

Just For Today

When one of my grandmothers was moved, I got some of her items. One, a plaque I keep near me, has the first piece below written on it. I am sharing the poem at Garry's request. The second part is something I wrote back in 2014, shortly before his mother passed away.

Just for Today

Lord for tomorrow and its needs I do not pray;
Keep me, my God, from stain of sin,
Just for today.

Now, set a seal upon my lips,
For this I pray;
Keep me from wrong or idle words,
Just for today.

Let me be slow to do my will,
Prompt to obey,
And keep me, guide me, use me Lord,
Just for today.

"The Lord shall guide thee Continually."
Isa. 58:11

Just for Today, Lord

Just for today, Lord,
Wrap me in Your arms,
Calm my heart
From all alarms.
Grant me words of wisdom
Whoever I speak to--
Words suitable to the situation,
Words of grace such as
You place in my heart and mind,
Words of Your Word,
Just for today, Lord.
Because only You know
If there are any more than
Today for me.

(October 8, 2014)

Transparent--written in 2010

For a while, it seemed that "intentional" was the word/concept many used. It would seem that has been superseded by "transparent," as in "the most transparent administration ever." Because I have found this adjective to be used so often, I decided to see how it is defined. I went online and found these definitions: "(of a material or article) allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be distinctly seen; easy to perceive or detect; having thoughts, feelings, or motives that are easily perceived; (of an organization or its activities) open to public scrutiny; transmitting heat or other electromagnetic rays without distortion; (of a process or interface) functioning without the user being aware of its presence."

How might the adjective "transparent" be rightly applied to a Christian?

Using the first definition--"(of a material or article) allowing light to pass through so that objects can be distinctly seen"--I thought of this from 1 Peter 3:15:  that we are always to be ready to give an answer for the hope within us. For that hope to be obvious, a certain transparency is required.

The second definition also pertains: "easy to perceive or detect." If my faith is clear, then it will also be transparent.

"Having thoughts, feelings, or motives that are easily perceived"--the third definition--is also easily connected, with this caveat from Proverbs 4:23: "Guard your heart for from it flow the issues of life."

Like it or not, a Christian's life is "(of an organization or its activities) open to public scrutiny," both as an individual and as a member of his or her local church.

When I look at the definition of transparent as "transmitting heat or other electromagnetic rays without distortion," I am reminded that I am to transmit the truth of God's Word equally without distortion.

The final definition--"(of a process or interface) functioning without the user being aware of its presence"--reminds me of what John the Baptist said regarding Jesus: "He must increase and I must decrease." I must be transparent so that Jesus can be clearly seen, intentionally.

Four Facets of Love, based on 1 Corinthians 13:7, written in 1969

Love bears all things:

Blessed be the LORD
Who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation.
Our God is a God of salvation;
And to God, the LORD, belongs escape from death.
(Psalm 68:19-20)

believes all things:

He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him.
(John 3:36)

hopes all things:

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
(Hebrews 10:23)
... and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given us.
(Romans 5:5)

endures all things:

... looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
(Hebrews 12:2)