Sacrifice bears fruit

Psalm 80:8-19

    8 You have brought a vine out of Egypt; 

          You have cast out the nations, and planted it. 

    9      You prepared room for it, 

          And caused it to take deep root, 

          And it filled the land. 

    17      Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, 

          Upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself. 

    18      Then we will not turn back from You; 

          Revive us, and we will call upon Your name. 

    19      Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; 

          Cause Your face to shine, 

          And we shall be saved! 

We are God’s field, His vineyard. He sends His vine into our midst, and all us wild rotting branches need to attach and cling to Him if we are to live and bear fruit. Jesus drank the cup of God’s wrath, poured out His blood. This cup reminds us of that blood, and it also shows us joyful fruit of the vine. God’s Spirit produces this fruit in us, for His glory and our joy. Give thanks to Him for Christ’s sacrifice, and the resulting fruit that flows from Him to you and from you to your neighbor.

2/27/11