Fruits That Displease God

“What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?” (Isaiah 5:4).

God’s love is unfathomable; He expresses this in His seemingly endless patience with man. He gives him a long rope to climb out of trouble, but many use the rope to hang themselves. Almost always, God’s love is taken for granted.

The people of Israel had been brought into the Promised Land, nourished, protected and cared for with “milk and honey” by the Lord. He expected a reciprocal gesture of righteous and honest lifestyle but got dishonesty and wilful disobedience. Sinners today frustrate God’s provision for them. God, in His infinite love, has made adequate provision in Jesus Christ for the redemption of man. And today, the choice is personal. Some have already chosen the wrong way. They believe that being regular at Church services, observing religious practices such as fasting and praying, or doing good deeds and maintaining decent morals while continuing in their corrupt and depraved lifestyle, are sufficient to attract the favour of God. But before God, these are all “wild grapes”.

What God expects of everyone is the fruit of righteous and holy life, completely devoid of any form of sin. God is not satisfied with good purpose but good life! And that life can only be found in Jesus Christ.

The starting point is to see oneself as one is - a sinner before God; repent and confess those despicable deeds to Him in Christ’s name; and make Jesus Christ his personal Lord and Saviour. Failure to do this will, of course, attract God’s inevitable judgment. The Lord will pull down the protective shield erected around him, making the person an easy target for the devil. The choice before every man is to shape-up and seize the opportunity God has presented today.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Sin is an abomination to the Lord.