We have come here to eat and drink; we have come here to be nourished. Now one of the central reasons why God nourishes us is that He wants us to bear fruit. His intention for us is fruitfulness. Nutrition is not a dead end process. He nourishes us so that we might flourish and grow. The prophet Isaiah expresses an element of this in this way: “My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill” (Isaiah 5:1b).
You are here, in the presence of the Lord. The Lord sets the fellowship of His sufferings before you so that you might partake of them. You partake of His sufferings in this way so that you might also be partakers of the fruit. In this place, in this manner, God is equipping you.
But He is equipping you right where you are. You are planted, along with the rest of all God’s people in a very fruitful hill. The entire vineyard, made up of all God’s people, is situated on a southern slope. The soil is rich, and the exposure to the sun of righteousness is wonderful.
Now some of you may struggle with this, but I want to encourage you. Your situation is ideal for you. God has chosen for you the very best place for you to be fruitful. If being somewhere else, in another situation, would bring Him greater glory, and you more good, then you may rest assured that that is where you be.
This is nourishment that enables you to be fruitful where you are. This is an exercise in growth, and not an exercise in transplanting. Your trials, your afflictions, your challenges, are the best opportunity that you will ever have to rejoice in God’s goodness and to bear fruit before Him. They are also, given the reality of temptation, the best place for you to turn away from that privilege. But we have a better expectation concerning you.
So come, and welcome, to Jesus Christ.
So good, thank you.
These words are very encouraging. Thank you.