Roots and Fruit

Each morning, while this dry weather continues, I make sure that I water the pots containing my 4 blueberry bushes. Experience tells me that if I pay attention to the condition of the roots, then there is a chance that the fruit will grow to maturity.

Last week, the tree fellers had to take down a large horse chestnut tree in the front of our house, because the roots were rotten. So there won't be any conkers from that tree this year!

And we can all add other examples, no doubt!

It seems to me that Jesus was teaching the same lessons when he spoke to the 72 disciples who returned from their first mission experience.

'When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” 

“Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.” (Luke 10.17-20)

The returning 72 were excited at the fruits of their mission activity. While Jesus confirms that significant spiritual victories were being won, he tells his disciples that much more significant is their relationship with God, which God alone has given in his mercy.

At our PCC meeting last evening, we looked again at this story. In pairs, we looked at recent encouragements that we had seen in the life of our church - and there is plenty of good evidence of God's mercy and blessing on us. But Jesus is quite clear that instead of focusing on the 'fruit' of our ministry, we need to keep looking to what God has been doing in us - the roots of our life in Him.

Today, it is vital that we attend to our roots - and then trust God with the fruit!

Best wishes,

Richard