Isaiah 5: 1-7

There is a book, written by Bob Goff, entitled ‘Love does.’ Love indeed does show itself in action. Bob Goff says his personal motto is: ”Love God, love people, do stuff.” Out of His love for His ”vineyard” (i.e. His own people/nation) God did so much for them. He gave them a great start; every chance to be fruitful. God could not have done more for them (3, 4a). But the fruit did not show (7; see 4b).

I am caused to think of the words of Jesus recorded in Luke: ‘Then he told this parable: ‘A man had a fig-tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, “For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig-tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?” (Luke 13:6, 7).

The Lord looks for ”fruit on this fig-tree’’ of my life. We are called to bear fruit as we abide in Christ.

”I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing...This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples…You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last…” (John 15:5, 8, 16) 

The whole purpose of our ‘marriage’ to Christ is for the sake of fruitfulness for God:

”So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.”  (Rom.7:4)

It is this production of fruit which authenticates any claim to be Christ’s. If we really are in Him, as a branch in the Vine; and if He (His life) is in us, we can expect for the fruit of Christlikeness to form (see Gal.5:22, 23). Without such manifestation the prospect can only be one of judgment (Isaiah 5: 5, 6). God has given us all we need to grow. If we don’t, there are no excuses to cling to.

Prayer: Make my life ‘delicious’ with your fruit Lord.