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Fruit Season

December 20, 2011 by Fritz

“He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season,” — Psalm 1:3

Fruitfulness is a longstanding metaphor throughout the Bible. Corrupted Israel was compared to summer fruit (Amos 8, Micah 7); Jesus said fruitless branches are removed (John 15); vineyards and orchards, wheat and weeds — all metaphors with meaning sometimes lost to urban readers.

Something to remember about fruit in the very first Psalm — it’s produced in its season. We expect “fruit” all the time and when things aren’t spiritually popping we think something is wrong when it could be that it’s just not the right time/season.

God’s admonition is to keep pressing on, keep praying, keep meditating on God’s word (the Bible) — fruit will come in its season.

— fritz
Also see: “The Church Clock” – July 30, 2010

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Distractions During Prayer

December 18, 2011 by Fritz

Herbert McCabe (1926-2001)

Trace your distraction back to the real desires it comes from and pray about these.

When you are praying for what you really want you will not be distracted. People on sinking ships do not complain of distractions during their prayer.

– Herbert McCabe, English theologian

God, Christ and Us, pg. 187 (a compilation of twenty-seven sermons of the famous English theologian Herbert McCabe London: Continuum International Publishing Group, 2005). Quoted in Philip Yancey’s book, Prayer (Kindle Locations 4039-4041). Zondervan. Kindle Edition

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Two (2) Metaphors for Life’s Focus

December 17, 2011 by Fritz

As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field. — Psalm 103:15-18

Ingrained in us is the desire to build/accomplish something permanent — isn’t going to happen! Life is not designed that way.

Only God and his purposes endure.

John the baptizer, in the Bible, uses an additional metaphor:

He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly …

He must increase, but I must decrease.” — John 3:29-30

The Best Man at a wedding knows the wedding is not about him and he’s happy with that.

As youth fades don’t be sad at the decrease, recognize your purpose and put the focus on the one whom life is, really, all about — our time comes later (Rev 19:9). Next time something you do, even with the best intentions, fails to produce results you want, offer those efforts, desires, and results as a sacrifice to Christ.

— fritz

Posted in Christ, Expectations, Explanations, Followers, Fulfillment, God's Will, Hope | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

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