Disappointing Fruit

 

What disappointing verses! Check it out!

 Isaiah 18:4-5 (ESV), For thus the Lord said to me:

“I will quietly look from my dwelling

like clear heat in sunshine,

like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”

For before the harvest, when the blossom is over,

and the flower becomes a ripening grape,

he cuts off the shoots with pruning hooks,

and the spreading branches he lops off and clears away.

 In context these verses are about God’s judgement upon Moab. The Moabites were going to be working hard planting, watering, tending their grape vines (literally or figuratively), but in the end, God just lops off the fruit of their labor. Snip!

 How discouraging that they would put forth all of that effort only to have the Lord thwart their plans. (But this was judgement, and God had His reasons of course.)

 I began to reflect on the fruit of my own labors after reading these verses. (If you read my previous post, you know I struggle with feeling inadequate for the work God has given me to do. Thankfully, He’s working with me on that. This is a sort of part 2.) I am learning that we do our part, He does His, but it’s also our responsibility to acknowledge our need for Him in everything we do if we want our efforts to produce good fruit instead of being lopped off or just withering away.

 Take a fresh look at these familiar verses:

 Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (emphasis mine)

 One more, and then I’ll tie it together.

 Psalm 90:17 (ESV), "Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!"

 Every day we go along the way with our to-do lists clutched in our hands. thinking of all that needs to be done, likely without acknowledging God’s role in assigning us our good works or of our desperate need for Him to bless our work. If He chose, He could lop the fruit right off of our endeavors because of our failure to acknowledge His will or to seek His direction.

 It’s better to ask for the Lord’s favor to be upon us as He establishes the work of our hands. Maybe that’s why some of us feel so fruitless? Maybe we are pursuing tasks not assigned to us? Sometimes He impresses upon on us creative ways to serve Him that might be unusual – ways that might be unique to us or our situation or personalities. It’s best that we acknowledge and submit to His direction in this. The good fruit might be surprising.

Maybe we are not asking for God’s favor upon our works? Maybe we’re leaning on our own understanding and not realizing that without Him we really can do nothing!

For example, recently I had an eye surgery. My doctor is supposed to be the best in the country. Guess what? He can do his expert thing of replacing part of my cornea, but only God can make it heal and be successful.

 Another, I can faithfully attend my body pump classes and give it my all, but only God can cause my body to develop muscle and protect my bones.

 I can plan, shop for, and prepare healthy meals, but only God can use those nutrients to help me thrive.

 I can pour out my heart telling others about Jesus, but only His Spirit can draw and save people.

 I can invest countless hours serving the residents at the TN Baptist Children’s Homes, but only God can do a special work in their lives for healing. hope, and happiness.

 These are some of the things I spend my time doing. Think about your typical day. Are you allowing God to establish the work of your hands? Are you acknowledging your dependence on Him to hold it all together, to cause it to flourish? I know I need to do more of that. What’s not going well? Have you asked Him if you need to be doing something different? Have you asked him to bless it or to give you wisdom in doing it better?

 I’m depending on Him right now as I type this Cup of Grace to make it fruitful. I have no impact or influence in my own power – and truthfully, that’s probably for the best.

 joyce hague