My SOAP devotional for 9/20
S - Ezekiel 15:1-5
"The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, how is the wood of a vine better than that of a branch on any of the trees in the forest? 3 Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful? Do they make pegs from it to hang things on? 4 And after it is thrown on the fire as fuel and the fire burns both ends and chars the middle, is it then useful for anything? 5 If it was not useful for anything when it was whole, how much less can it be made into something useful when the fire has burned it and it is charred?"
O - The vine is the support or "foundation" that produces the fruit. The fruit cannot be produced without the vine but the vine that does not produce fruit is useless for wood purposes and only serves as fuel for the fire...it is burned and consumed.
A - We too, like the vine, must produce good fruit. We are only useful to God when we are using the gifts He has given us to bring others into His kingdom. We draw others close to Him through our example and living a life of gratitude and service. We have the gift of salvation freely given, but we are to serve as a response to this gift, otherwise we are merely fuel for the fire. We become burned and consumed by the hardship of life with no chance for renewal.
P - Almighty Father, you do not NEED us to do your works, for you spoke a word and created light! But I am reminded by your precious word that WE need YOU to use us in your plan for we are most satisfied in you when we serve and bless others. Remind me in my selfish times of focusing on my own needs...times when I just want to "hang out on the vine" connected to your "roots", that I need to soak up your goodness and get to work blessing others! Amen.
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