Devotion - Thursday, December 7

I tend to shy away from the verses which have Jesus saying threatening things.  The Gospels are full of words of welcome and blessing.  It is too easy for us to stumble over these threatening comments.

Matthew 21 has one of these:  "Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it."

I would ask you to pause and consider this statement.  And I would ask you to allow your meditations to inform your understanding of the "fruits" to which Jesus refers.

At the Bible Study this Tuesday, we recalled the stories of Abraham.  The selection of Abraham is clear and specific.  Abraham is blessed by God and sent to be a blessing to others.

The "fruits" for which God yearns is this blessing of others.

How easily we fall into the mistaken notion that the fruits of interest are those which reflect our piety.  We identify going to church, praying, singing hymns, pointing out the transgressions of others.

The nation which produces the fruits of the kingdom of God is the one in which others are blessed - their hungry are fed, their sick cared for, and their orphaned given shelter.

The "gospel within the Gospel" (to quote Martin Luther) informs us on what is good and what it is that the Lord requires of us.  It is to be Jesus in the world - to be the one who looks out for the welfare of the beaten and abused and abandoned.  It is to realize the blessing that has come to us and to actively be involved in blessing others.