Be fruitful

Notes from meeting of 19 February 2013

Rest in my love.

I am the vine, My Father is the gardener, you are the branches. Be fruitful.

Romans 15
1 It is for us who are strong to bear with the susceptibilities of the weaker ones, and not please ourselves.

2 Each of us must consider his neighbour's good, so that we support one another.
3 Christ did not indulge his own feelings, either; indeed, as scripture says: The insults of those who insult you fall on me.
4 And all these things which were written so long ago were written so that we, learning perseverance and the encouragement which the scriptures give, should have hope.
5 Now the God of perseverance and encouragement give you all the same purpose, following the example of Christ Jesus,
6 so that you may together give glory to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one heart.
7 Accept one another, then, for the sake of God's glory, as Christ accepted you.

2 Chronicles 1 v1 - 12
1 Solomon son of David then made himself secure over his kingdom. Yahweh his God was with him, making him more and more powerful.
2 Solomon then spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of families.
3 Solomon, and the whole assembly with him, then went to the high place at Gibeon, where God's Tent of Meeting was, which Moses, servant of God, had made in the desert.
4 The ark of the covenant, however, David had brought from Kiriath-Jearim to the place which he had prepared for it, having pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.
5 The bronze altar which Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, had made was there, in front of Yahweh's Dwelling, where Solomon and the assembly consulted him.
6 There Solomon presented a burnt offering before Yahweh on the bronze altar of the Tent of Meeting, making on it one thousand burnt offerings.
7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said, 'Ask what you would like me to give you.'
8 Solomon replied to God, 'You showed most faithful love to David my father, and you have made me king in succession to him.
9 Yahweh God, the promise you made to David my father has now been fulfilled, since you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.
10 Therefore give me wisdom and knowledge to act as leader of this people, for how otherwise could such a great people as yours be governed?'
11 'Since that is what you want,' God said to Solomon, 'since you have asked, not for riches, treasure, honour, the lives of your enemies, or even for a long life, but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people of whom I have made you king,
12 therefore wisdom and knowledge are granted you. I give you riches too, and treasure, and honour such as no king had before you and none will have after you.'

Isaiah 55 v 6 - 11
6 Seek out Yahweh while he is still to be found, call to him while he is still near.

7 Let the wicked abandon his way and the evil one his thoughts. Let him turn back to Yahweh who will take pity on him, to our God, for he is rich in forgiveness;
8 for my thoughts are not your thoughts and your ways are not my ways, declares Yahweh.
9 For the heavens are as high above earth as my ways are above your ways, my thoughts above your thoughts.
10 For, as the rain and the snow come down from the sky and do not return before having watered the earth, fertilising it and making it germinate to provide seed for the sower and food to eat,
11 so it is with the word that goes from my mouth: it will not return to me unfulfilled or before having carried out my good pleasure and having achieved what it was sent to do.


Lord thank you that we can rest in your love.

However your love calls us to action, to be fruitful in spreading your love to others, to strengthen the weak to support those who are burdened, to teach others to bring them hope and encouragement.
Help us Lord to spread your love to our families, friends, work colleagues and all who we meet in our daily lives.
Amen