Scripture:
Hosea 14:8-9 ESV
[8] O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit. [9] Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.
Observation:
Maybe it’s because we have been talking about the fruit of the Holy Spirit at the start and finish of our work day that this stuck out to me, but nonetheless, I believe it’s something we need to look at. Hosea is one of those books where you might think that GOD is going to get you if you step out of line. It talks about how HIS people chase after gods made by their own hands. In a sense whoring after gods that can not answer them. All the while, the LORD of heaven and earth waits for them to turn back to HIM. Constantly calling, constantly pleading, constantly revealing HIMSELF to them. Waiting for them to surrender to HIS amazing love. So that HE can bring an increase. So that their fruit can be shown to the world. When they look at GOD as a GOD who is trying to punish them, that is what they will see. The interesting part is that it’s not HIS desire to punish. If they would just change their perspective and see HIM for who HE is. Then, what they see of HIM would change. Maybe they should be looking at HIM as a farmer who is growing a crop. As the trees start to grow and the branches start to bloom if one of them is not doing well or has signs that there is something really wrong with it. HE will cut that branch off so that the tree won’t over-focus on the issue trying to fix it, and by doing so, the healthy branches can start to produce more.
Application:
GOD is not trying to punish you. HE wants you to produce fruit… or HE would not have planted you. I used to think it was my responsibility to produce fruit, and if I didn’t, then I would be in trouble. What a relief it was to find out that my Father was a farmer. HE knew just what I needed to grow. Just what kind of dirt is needed to be used so that the right thing was added to my life, and just when to prune the branches that were hurting me. How amazing it is to just surrender to the will of the farmer. Knowing that HE will make sure that fruit will be produced. Now that being said, I don’t know that we can talk about fruit without bringing up Galatians chapter 5:22. I could get rather long-winded on this SOAP but will try not to. I look at this list as a progressive list that starts with love… everything stems from that, and without it honestly, nothing good can grow. I could explain each stage that I see in this description of the fruit of the spirit, but for the sake of time, I will skip to self-control and why I see it at the end of the list. For one, it’s not the easiest to obtain, and a lot of time, the name of it can be misleading. Self-control comes only from a full submission to the Holy Spirit and can be seen. That’s when you know the fruit is totally ripe. Some of us get it right away, and some of us need a lot of pruning to make it happen. The pruning comes from natural consequences. But when you see someone who is self-controlled, you know that the Holy Spirit is in their life and operates in the manner that HE should.
Prayer:
Father, help us to see that you are not trying to take something from us or punish us for doing wrong. But that you prune us so that our lives can be fruitful. The increase is up to you. But we are only trees in your garden. Trees that you love and want to see good things from. Let us see that and operate inside your Holy Spirit. We want to be used by you, and we submit to your will. Grow us in your Holy Spirit. Father, it’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.