As I said yesterday, the Vinedresser, that is our Holy Father, will tenderly pick us up if we have not been bearing any fruit, and begin the process of cleaning us up so we CAN bear fruit. For the Father, this is an act of love and respect towards the valuable Branch…the issue is, we Branches often have no idea what He is doing, so we end up fighting God with every move. So here is the first Secret of the Vine:
“If your life consistently bears no fruit, God will intervene to discipline you.” (p35)
Discipline! Well there is a word that not too many people like! Yet this is one of the most loving things any parent can do for their child! God wants us to enjoy the Abundant Life more than we do! But this means we have some changes that must take place in order for us to be able to enjoy this New Life in Christ. As I said, way too many times we do not understand what God is trying to do to help us, so we fight Him instead. So Mr Wilkinson says, “If necessary, He will use painful measures to bring you to repentance. His purpose is to cleanse you and free you of sin so that you can live a more abundant life for His glory.” (p36) The Truth is, God has to get our attention so that we even know we need to change! This is talking about some major sin we have in our lives and the behavior that is no longer consistent with our New Identity in Christ. That was the old us. Now God wants us to repent of it and let it go, so that we can live as the New us.
For our ultimate good, God seeks to remove our old MMI ways which are self-destructive and unfruitful. Uncontrolled behavior stops up the flow of Grace from God to, then through us. And so Love makes discipline necessary. While God loves us just the way we are, God loves us way too much to leave us in the pitiful state we were in when He saved us. Discipline is not a dirty word…it is a cleansing word! As it is the “good hurt” we need to live the life we truly desire. Learn to work with God, because the quicker we repent of the sin, the quicker the trial will end!
2023’s Got A Minute? Book Club
January: The First & Best Book Ever: The Bible
February: Love Is In the Air: “The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts” by Gary Chapman
March: Spring Growth: “Secrets of the Vine” by Bruce Wilkinson
<>< Peace, Diane
