Hosanna Restoration Church

Works do not save us, but they may be instrumental in keeping us! They help to keep us focused on what the Lord wants. And what the Lord wants is what we want.

There was a question posed in a bible plan that I read; Are you producing spiritual fruit, or just soaking up rain? This came from the idea that we are each a field that God rains on and cares for. It gave me something to think about. I certainly want to be producing fruit!

Have I learned to meet the urgent needs of others? There are a lot of others! Am I selective about the others that I help? Do I prefer the people I like? Do I ignore others? Well, that is enough of that. The sad truth is that I have probably done that! Fortunately, He is still working on me. The more I help others, the more I can be certain that I will not be unproductive.

1 Corinthians 15:58, encourages us that nothing we do for the Lord is in vain. If we do nothing, we may be guilty of just soaking up rain! We go to church. We enjoy worship. We enjoy being in a fellowship with others. We enjoy the goodness and the peace of God. We enjoy all the benefits, but do we produce fruit?

When we do the things we like to do but resist the things that are uncomfortable we have a mixed basket of fruit! I am the last person to try and sort someone else’s fruit, that is not what I am trying to do. I am simply posing a question. What we do with that is up to each of us individually.

I want to finish the race in a sprint. As Paul said, I want to run the race to win. I realize of course that Jesus makes me a winner. I am thankful that He always causes me to triumph! I just do not want to miss His directions.

I remember that He is thinking about me and about what is best for me. With that in mind, I want to work on the questions that cause me to pause.

I so enjoy all that I have in this life with Christ! I love the rain of the Holy Spirit. I love to worship the Lord. I love to praise Him! I love everything about God! He is easy to love. People on the other hand pose a challenge at times.

I hate to say it, but I know there are times when I have done less than I should because of preference. At the time I am sure I had a good reason, but I may not have taken the time to really seek the Lord to be sure. It is like when we want something, we really seek the Lord in hopes that He will approve it, even when we already know it is not the right thing. Then at other times we know what is right, but we keep checking just in case and we miss it. Have you ever done that? Deep down, none of us want to just soak up rain. We all want to be productive. Press on!