Your Daily Slice

KISLEV 3

Branches

“Bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance [let your lives prove your change of heart] …” (Mat 3:8 AMPC, emphasis mine)

Flowers are often fragrant, and their colors are a delight to the eye.  The thick green of leaves and branches are also pleasing, especially as shade on a hot summer day.  However, Elohim determined that it is in ‘fruit’ that value is found.  The quality of our fruit will always parallel the maturity of our conduct, the integrity of our character, and the reflection of Messiah Yeshua in our lives.  Only as we stay united and attached to the Vine, are we able to produce the quality of fruit necessary in our walk with our Master, for according to John 15:5, without HIM, we can do nothing.

“Any branch IN ME that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away)…”   (Joh 15:2 AMPC, emphasis mine)

I have pondered these words; I have read them in a dozen (or more) different translations, and they all say basically the same thing.  Different commentaries agree as well:  these are branches (people) that are part of the vine (are born-again and grafted in), but for whatever reason(s), they consistently do not produce fruit.  According to the Word (in many translations, these words are in red, because Yeshua said them), the Father cuts them off, and in 15:6, these branches are gathered into a fire, and are burned.

The Apostle Paul told us that in these end times, there would be those that would depart from the faith (1Tim 4:1), and concerning the faith, suffer shipwreck (1Tim 1:19).  Messiah Yeshua also warned us to beware of the ‘chameleon lizards’, those who would try to deceive us into believing that they are “someone” – and indeed they are not.  (See Mat 7:21-23)

“So every good tree yields good fruit, but a ROTTEN tree yields WICKED fruit.  A good tree is unable to yield wicked fruit, and a rotten tree to yield good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  So then, by their fruits YOU SHALL KNOW THEM” (Mat 7:17-20 ISR, emphasis mine)

We have seen the emergence of many obvious false prophets, and teachers, but there are others, not quite so obvious, that are leading scores of Yahweh’s people astray.  Is it not past time for us to rise up and band together, to become the disciples of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that we are supposed to be?  We are called to be a family, a mishpochah, a support-group that each one of us can turn to in a time of need.  Instead, many that are called by His name spend their time bickering amongst themselves, while the rest of the world is slipping away “through remote-clutching fingers” (as my good friend and brother in Messiah, Jason Arnold, once said).

“And let us consider and GIVE ATTENTIVE, CONTINUOUS CARE to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (STIMULATE AND INCITE) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities, not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (WARNING, URGING, AND ENCOURAGING) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.”  (Heb 10:24-25 AMPC, emphasis mine)

“He who WILLFULLY separates and estranges himself [from God and man] seeks his own desire and pretext to break out against all wise and sound judgment.” (Pro 18:1 AMPC)

©2018