Day 230 Pack the Fruit

 

8/18/2025

"Learn from Jesus" 

 

As we continue our study of the Nicaean Council, recognizing the 1700 years since it began, our speaker for today brought a different slant into the study by considering the culture, traditions, and how other ideas infiltrated the church that do not agree with the Bible. This includes the Hebrew versus the Greek Hellenistic influence in 4 BC with Alexander the Great, the revolt of the Maccabees against the Seleucid Empire, a look at the Canon as a standard, and the influence of Plato and Homer. It was an interesting look at the rise of antisemitism from the sharer's perception. Honestly, there was so much taught in our brief time together that I will have to listen to the study again. ICEJ has made the studies available to anyone who desires to learn the truth about antisemitism and anti-Zionism that is invading our world spewing hatred for our brethren. The Christian Embassy also has tons of information available to anyone who desires to know the truth of the origin of the nation of Israel, and it can help those who cannot clearly see that God has spoken in His word beginning in Genesis continuing to Revelation. The main takeaway I grasped hold of is that "we learn from Jesus!" If we want to know the truth, consider what Jesus taught. I know that when I have been attacked in the past, I head straight to the scriptures to refresh my mind with what Jesus said! He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! And He's the only one who died for us, and who rose from the dead, and is now seated in Heaven making intercession for us!

Pastor Jack was readying himself for the battle that he would be facing along with other Californians who are standing in support of our children against the risk of passing a bill that would be an open field day for traffickers. Certainly California is going from bad to worse in their freedom to predators in every sphere to run free. It is sad to watch our nation fall into decline, but thankfully God has given us another chance to wake up, stand up, and speak out for His righteousness and for His glory. The scripture for this morning's lesson in praying the word comes from Isaiah 45:22-25:

"'Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself; the word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath. He shall say, 'Surely in the LORD I have righteousness and strength. To Him men shall come, and all shall be ashamed who are incensed against Him. In the LORD all the descendants of Israel shall be justified, and shall glory.'"

God is saying that He has sworn by His Name, and there is no other! It reminds me of the verse in Ecclesiastes 4:12: "Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken." In the Trinity we have a 3-ply cord, The Father, The Son, and Holy Spirit. Three in One -  God is omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient. We find the truth of these words throughout scripture, and they are truth that brings confidence of His presence in the lives of His followers.

It seems as if over the past month or two that rather than walk through the Bible, I have been poking along in the one instance, while I'm racing along in another. Sometimes I feel as if I can't catch up, because I'm Ms Must Have it My Way, and be consistent, while God has had other plans. And His are always much better, although, I admit, I still protest and try to catch up to where I feel I should be. Today my "read" found me lazing and grazing in Ezekiel, Chapters 12-15 which concerns the Condemnation for False Leaders. The commentator compares the two prophets God sends during the time of Israel's exile, and the pending Babylonian exile of Judah. Both use picturesque illustrations, directed by God, to illustrate God's messages to the people, but they are vastly different, and although they do capture the attention of the people, there is no change in heart.

In the section of Your Daily Walk, I found the comments very compelling, so I want to share them with my readers:

"Fruit is the evidence of the root."

"Think back to the last time you spent an entire day taming the shrubbery around your house. Perhaps you found yourself pruning, gathering, and burning overgrown foliage that was long overdue for a 'trim.' Do you remember the feeling of success when you hauled away or burned the last of those useless vines and sticks?

Now put yourself in God's place for a moment. For generations you have been working with a stubborn and rebellious nation - looking for the fruits of righteousness but finding only useless vines. You have repeatedly sent your prophets, but their messages have fallen on deaf ears. At last, your patience has been exhausted. It is no longer time to tenderly prune or patiently wait; it is time to pluck up and cast down - the painful price of persistent fruitlessness.

What kind of vine have you been for God in the last six months? If you had to place a label over your life would it read 'Needs Pruning,' 'Needs Patience' or 'Needs Pulling Down'? Pack an extra piece of fruit in your lunch today as a reminder that fruit-bearing is not simply a good idea; it is the reason God has left you here."

OUCH!!!

While I certainly understand the whole taming of shrubbery and trees, as my readers well know from my many mishaps I've shared, and the feeling of success, sadly, when I look out my door I see that once more the process must be repeated, as the foliage has taken on new levels of rebellion! Imagine how God feels when He waits patiently for us to shape up and produce the fruit of His many labors in our lives. When the least little inconvenience pops up, we whine, cry, and protest the inequity of it all! Yet, we are so blessed to have a Father who loves us so much that He gives us chance after chance, but, many times, to no avail. We are a work in progress on this journey called life, and we have so much to learn spiritually in learning obedience, following God's plan rather than our own, growing in His grace and righteousness, becoming more like Jesus, and bearing the fruit of His Spirit in our lives. Maybe it would be a good idea to "pack the fruit" into our lunch boxes, tie a string around our finger, do whatever it takes to remember the words of wisdom we just read. I know I will eat wholeheartedly!