Stunted Fruit

One of the reasons I do not bear “much fruit” as Jesus designed for me to is because I indulge in too many “growth inhibitors”. While analyzing my life for what these might be can easily devolve into old familiar legalism, ignoring them can also be legalism. As Morris Vendon says, “the only difference between liberals and conservatives is the contents of their checklists. Conservative legalists are proud of all the things they don't do and liberals are proud of all the things they are not avoiding. But both are stuck on their lists.”

I have grown enough now to be much more aware of the importance of my dynamic relationship with God more than any list, positive or negative. Since I have started becoming more and more aware of my heart I also am noticing more how events and decisions influence and affect my heart relationships and my heart's ability to synchronize with God. And while presently during this period of probation many things may not break my relationship with God, they certainly inhibit my spiritual growth and stunt the natural fruit that God wants to produce in me.

This stunted fruit production in turn reflects poorly back on God's reputation since He is the one responsible for me. It is His reputation that is profaned before my world even more than mine. I'm sure glad He has a plan to resolve this problem that He has laid out in Ezekiel 36 and 37. I choose to continue to hold Him to His word and ask Him to give me a spirit of cooperation with Him in removing these lusts for the inhibitors in my life. I look to God again to continue to the finish the salvage work He has begun in me for His name's sake.

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. "For you will go out with joy And be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands. (Isaiah 55:8-12)