ESOCS Devotional 1 March 2024 – The Lord Demands His Fruits
MEMORY VERSE: “And when the time of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.’ Matthew 21:34
TEXT: MATTHEW 21:33-46
Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.
37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.
40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?
41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.
46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.
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Every investor expects to receive returns on their investment. Every business owner expects profits from those employed to manage the company. These have invested in material things of the world and in due time will demand account and returns from the managers; failure to make good returns without reasonable excuse could result in their being fired and another set of managers hired or the business sold off to enable the owner have rest of mind and cut down on further losses.
In kingdom business, God has made an eternal investment in His church and given her to anointed elders to manage and bring Him fruits in season. He has invested spiritual gifts and talents in believers and demands that we bring Him fruits in season. To the Jewish church leaders who failed to do this, John the Baptist cautioned: “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance… and now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees and every tree that bringeth forth not good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire” (Matt. 3:8-10). God has been consistent on His demand for fruits from the leaders of the church and from believers for whom He invested the life of His only begotten Son. You are reading this devotional because you are among the called, of the Lord. Therefore, hear our Lord Jesus Christ, as He warns those who fail to bring forth fruit: “The kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof” (Matt. 21:43b).
Again, in the abiding chapter, our Lord emphasizes bearing fruits unto God, as the purpose of our calling and discipleship: “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruits, so shall ye be my disciples” (Jn. 15:18). See also the warning in John 15:2. It is important to note that we cannot bear fruit unto God unless we abide in Christ Jesus and in His word. Those husbandmen did not abide in the Lord nor in His love; neither did they have the fear of God in them nor respect to His commandments. Hence, they defiantly refused to make returns. Let us therefore abide in Christ and from Him receive power to return acceptable fruits unto God.
- Examine your calling and talents.
- What fruits are you returning unto God?
- Lord, help me to abide in you that I may draw strength to return good fruits unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Further Reading: Isaiah 5:1-7; John 15:1-8
ESOCS Devotional 1 March 2024
