O people of Israel…you have been unfaithful to your God…
So now your harvests will be too small to feed you.
There will be no grapes for making new wine (Hosea 9:1-3 NLT)
Whenever Israel’s grain and wine crops failed, they could be assured it was a warning. One of the ways the surrounding nations could know that the Israelites belonged to the LORD was how obedience to His Law yielded blessing. And disobedience brought captivity.
The same is true for those of us under the New Covenant. While we may not have material wealth result from obedience, He promises our lives will bear fruit. We may not be taken as captives to another nation, but we can definitely be spiritual captives.
Submission to one another is required if we desire to bear much fruit to His glory. I think it should be said this is adult to adult submission, not parent to child. There is dignity and differing opinions and love.
Please, Jesus, let us love.
We have one enemy. Just one. Taking that seriously can help us have wisdom in dealing with each other.
“Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world. That is why you need to put on God’s full armor. Then on the day of evil you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing.” (Ephesians 6:12-13 NCV)
The Lord says, “O Israel, when I first found you,
it was like finding fresh grapes in the desert.
When I saw your ancestors,
it was like seeing the first ripe figs of the season.
But then they deserted me for Baal-peor,
giving themselves to that shameful idol.
Soon they became vile,
as vile as the god they worshiped. (vs 10 NLT)
Usually we come to Jesus as a result of what He does in our lives. We see Him as we never have before and are drawn to worship Him. The intimacy is palpable. The joy is contagious. There is no question in our minds that He brought everything and we brought nothing to the relationship. He simply rescued us because He delights in us.
But after? I know I have to daily (hourly?) recommit to His Ways. But that’s because the following makes me shudder:
But I do have something against you! And it is this: You don’t have as much love as you used to. Think about where you have fallen from, and then turn back and do as you did at first. If you don’t turn back, I will come and take away your lampstand. (Rev 2:4-5 CEV)
He is addressing His people in this chapter. He’s not talking about salvation. He’s talking about our light and influence in this dark world.
We were created to bear much fruit, showing ourselves to be His disciples.
Fruitfulness only comes from being connected to the Vine.
There is life in Him and nowhere else.