U 192

Uni-verse 192/10,000 For better through verse Isaiah 27 v 6
Isa 27:6 He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.

The Lord recently encouraged me by saying, " You are a good root." Pride, reason enabled doubt and desire makes many a wild or unproductive root that grows like a weed wherever it is planted . They become briers and thorns fit for burning. But,grace enabled faith grafts us to the root of Jacob, a branch of Israel. Jacob struggled with God and was given the name, " Israel". But, we have God with us in all our struggles. He gives us triumph at the end of every struggle that we will blossom, bud and bear fruit. He treasures, cherishes and nourishes us.

We must be rooted in Christ and in the Word of God in order to bear fruit in season and out of season. To be rooted in Christ means we need to love His Name and Person, trust His promises and obey His commandments. Many of the things that God has planned and planted in us are at the seed or bud stage but He will bring it into the fullness of fruition in good time. The Holy Spirit plays the role of a diligent gardener who prunes and trims us into shape. The promptings and prodding of the Holy Spirit and the trials and troubles we face are intended to prune and keep us prim. The Word of God says that He will tend the plant day and night lest any hurt or harm it and water it EVERY MOMENT. Hence, our faith should not be momentary but growing from moment to moment.

The fruit that we bear are godly traits of character: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness,humility, self control and wisdom. We need to abound in these qualities. Fruit also refers to our good works done with a motive to please and honour God and not merely to earn a good name and reputation for ourselves. A third type of fruit are the souls that we are instrumental in bringing into the Lord's harvest. Fruitfulness also implies being ambassadors for Christ where we are planted by being effective professionals who facilitate change for the better and stand for righteousness.


Prateep V Philip