Beauty of Jesus!

Yesterday, we had a very warm day! That, I like! All the people are now coming out of the "hibernation mode" across the country after a whirlwind of weather (mudslides in California; Tsunami in Asia; snow, snow, snow in the mid-Atlantic). Now, mother nature is starting to cooperate with us. It's a blessing to have just about anything, weather-wise!

I did some pruning, raking, pulling and watering in our front yard. It didn't look so bad before I started the work until I see how many bags full of debris I had packed in! It didn't seem like I would have more than one bags, but I did. Though, I have some "side effects" after doing all the pruning, raking, pulling and watering, it sure feels good seeing our front lawn looking like an award-winning landscape!

Jesus taught His disciple the art of "spirit-scaping." The definition of "landscaping" is: the art of depicting (as if by picture) such scenery; making such scenery.

"Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit." John 15:2 (NAS)

We must praise Jesus for what He continues to do with our lives? He is constantly changing the way we talk, the way we behave, the way we respond, the way we think and the way we feel. He molded us into His likeness. But it all depends on the person of God. The Scripture, above, tells it all! Jesus identified the "branch" as a soul living on earth. There are two life that a "branch" will live: bearing fruit or not. When a soul (Christian or world) does not walk and talk like Jesus, that soul is not bearing fruit. They may be living a very bitter life, critical or prideful or living a "license to sin", idolaters, greedy, drunkards and others that God identifies in the heart of a soul..

God brings out the Word through His servant. At first, the Word (Holy Spirit) will convict the soul (the world) of his/her sins and prayerfully, he/she will come to the Lord (hear, believe, repent, confess and baptize). After the soul has given his/her life to the Lord in baptism, they are added to the "number" (Acts 2:41-42), thus added to the Vine who is Jesus. Now, the Spirit, through God's holy Word, will do some "spirit-scaping". It is God that prunes making the soul a more fruitful servant. God has a desire for every soul to live for Jesus. So He, through the teachings and preachings of His Word, changes (pruning) the soul that will eventually become a much beautiful and fruitful person of God.

There's no beauty in a critical, bitter, prideful or a "license to sin" person. God, after trying to change such person with His Word, leaves no room for this person on the Vine. It is a poison that not only affects a person but affects the whole body of Christ, the church. So He cuts it away because he/she will not change and bear fruit!

And there's a beauty of Jesus, those who reflect their lives, the beauty of the Lord, the wonders of His Word!

Let's pray: Oh God, thank You for this life we have. Thank You for Your Son, Jesus, for He died to free us from the bondage of sin. There's nothing else on earth that is like Him. And there's nothing more I want. I pray, Father, that You will do what You will in every soul that comes to You. I pray those who have come to You (Christians) will continue to be a changing person because of Your Word. We know it's Your desire to grow a strong and healthy church. We know it's Your desire that every soul walk and talk like Jesus. It is really sad that we have hundreds of thousands of Christians who are not walking according to Your Word. We know that you call them, "lukewarm" and that Your Son, Jesus, will spit them out of His mouth. Thank You for those who continues to serve You, are forever changing their attitudes and hearts, are connected to the Vine (Jesus). Pray that You will do what You will to make those whose hearts are fruitful, more fruitful! In Jesus' Name, Amen!