HEAVENSREEF

Since each day gives us the opportunity to choose…….let’s choose wisely.  We can choose to do right or wrong, but let’s remember this today:

DOING THE WRONG THING TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT IS BITTER FRUIT.

Let’s not choose bitter but better.  Let’s not choose what the world chooses, but let’s choose GOD’S way.  A way that is true and right.

How often do we try to manipulate a situation so that it turns out the way we want it to?  How often do we choose to go the wrong way instead of HIS way?

JOHN 15: 4  “NO BRANCH CAN BEAR FRUIT BY ITSELF; IT MUST REMAIN IN THE VINE.  NEITHER CAN YOU BEAR FRUIT UNLESS YOU REMAIN IN ME.”

Our own choices tend to produce bitter fruit.  Consider David.  He saw Bathsheba, wanted her, so he planned and killed her husband, just to satisfy his lust for her.  He chose this bitter fruit and suffered the consequences the rest of his life.

HOW OFTEN OUR OWN CHOICES END IN BITTER FRUIT!

All this happens because we hurry and we are impatient and we want things now.  But our gracious GOD reminds us of this:

PSALM 37: 7  “BE STILL BEFORE THE LORD AND WAIT PATIENTLY FOR HIM…….”

Why are we so bad at waiting?  Is this truly what our LORD needs to teach us in all circumstances?  We rush ahead of GOD, thinking our way is better, quicker and just what the problem needs.  But oh if we would just wait!  Pray and wait!  Count to 10 and wait!  Be still and wait.

Why do we choose the bitter hanging fruit?  The fruit that withers and dies?  Why don’t we choose the fresh, healthy fruit, the pure tasting fruit that never dies?

Since GOD is just and merciful and all knowing, why do we think we know better?  This is a prideful thing, instead of submitting and following HIS wisdom and example for us.  Take time today to read in JOHN 15 all about the VINE and the VINEDRESSER.   If we remain in the VINE then we will choose the good fruit and we will bear much fruit because apart from HIM we can do nothing.  Let’s not be the branch that withers and dies! 

JOHN 15:  16  “YOU DID NOT CHOOSE ME, BUT I CHOSE YOU AND APPOINTED YOU SO THAT YOU MIGHT GO AND BEAR FRUIT – FRUIT THAT WILL LAST……..”

HIS life-giving vine is just that:  it’s nutrients give life to the branches and HIS spirit gives life to us, life-giving water from the Holy Spirit and food from GOD’S word.

Choose the good fruit today…….satan has supplied the bitter fruit everywhere we turn.  But it is rotten and a dead end.  Only GOD’S eternal VINE with it’s life sustaining fruit is pure and ripe for our picking. 

JOHN 15: 1 “I AM THE TRUE VINE, AND MY FATHER IS THE VINEDRESSER.”