The fruit of the Vine

Now I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a rich and fertile hill. He plowed the land, cleared its stones, and planted it with the best vines. In the middle he built a watchtower and carved a winepress in the nearby rocks. Then he waited for a harvest of sweet grapes, but the grapes that grew were bitter. Now, you people of Jerusalem and Judah, you judge between me and my vineyard. What more could I have done for my vineyard that I have not already done? When I expected sweet grapes, why did my vineyard give me bitter grapes? Isaiah 5:1-4

The Scripture is replete with illustrations as to how God demonstrated His love to those that placed their trust in Him. Isaiah 5 is one of those chapters that described the care and love of God for His people. From the text, God is the owner of the vineyard. He took care of the vineyard by plowing the ground (v. 2), removed the stones, planted the best variety of plants available, and prepared for the harvest by building a wine press. He built a tower that gave him a place to live as he protected the vineyard from predators during the harvest season. He was anticipating that there will be a great harvest, yet, after a long time of hopeful waiting for the vines to mature, he found only sour bitter fruit. Then He asked the listeners. If the owner of the vineyard was responsible and worked hard, did he not have every reason to expect good grapes instead of the sour bitter ones? He also asked if someone was at fault about the result and if so, who was at fault for not obtaining a harvest of sweet grapes? Every Christian has been given by God a definite assurance about their eternal adoption into God’s family. But He expects from them that they will grow in their relationship with Him and will produce a harvest. You cannot just ignore His will for your life and continue to assume that He will not act if you will ignore His leading in your life. This is why it is very important to guard one’s mind in to whatever challenges their position in Christ. Sin will prevent you to continue to establish a strong connection with God. God wants you to bear fruit but this can only happen if you will choose to abide in Him. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Submit to his working in your life and do not let your selfishness hinder the accomplishment of His will. God expects that in your surrender to Him you will produce fruit. “By their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:16).