We’re adverse creatures.
Adverse to …
pain.
hardship.
suffering.
loss.
difficulty.
Practice avoidance. Skirt the issue. Run away.
But perhaps our lives depend on….
Something else entirely. Today, we continue walking the vines in the Scouting the Divine online summer Bible study. It’s not too late to join with friends and kiddos, click here.
Vines and vineyards line the pages of Scriptures. In John 14:5, Jesus takes on this imagery for Himself. He compels us:
“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”
Jesus’ words drip with sweet, earthy imagery.
Vines. Branches. Abiding. In. Fruit. Apart. Nothing.
The tendency is to focus on what can be seen.
Leafy largeness. Curlicue twists. Sugary fruitiness.
Yet all depends on the unseen.
Great vintners know thin hillside soil is among the best for vine growth.
Why?
Richer, moister soil doesn’t yield fruit, just a lot of foliage and wood.
Slow down. Did you catch it?
Richer, moister soil doesn’t yield fruit, just a lot of foliage and wood.
This principle has been lived out in the lives of people you know. And perhaps your own.
Rich, soft, luscious soil is pleasant, comfortable, delectable for growing cereals. Grains adore nutrient-plush dirt.
But to abide in the vine and produce more than “a lot of foliage and wood” requires rocky, difficult soil.
In From Vines to Wines, Jeff Cox notes:
“One reason why steep hillsides are so good for grapes is that erosion has scoured the land to its poorest, stoniest constituents.”[1]
The irony, the paradox:
The least productive soils for cereals become the most productive for grapes.
Or
The most valuable crops thrive in the harshest of soils.
All those stones, those rocky areas, serve a profound purpose:
The stones help drain the soil.
The stones force the roots to run deep.
The stones give the grapes their multidimensional taste.
Without the stones…
The vines can rot.
The roots run shallow.
The grapes taste meh.
So perhaps our lives depend on us learning to recognize
pain
hardship
suffering
loss
difficulty
the rocks
the stony areas
the places we beg God to remove and they do not budge
Well, maybe, just maybe God is doing something richer and deeper through those than we ever imagined. Maybe He’s using those to develop greater health and depth and flavor and fruitfulness than anyone thought possible.
Because anyone can be all foliage and wood….
but a world-class wine, well, that’s another matter….
And one Jesus seems very concerned with.
Each week, we’re going to dive into a session of Scouting the Divine book and Bible Study.
This week:
- Watch. Session 5: Experiencing God’s Tender Care (8:25) on the DVD.
- Write. Respond Session 5 of homework in the workbook (pages 84-101).
- Read. Chapter 4.1 – 4.8 (pages 155-178) in the book.
- Interact. Share what ideas or phrases that catch your attention. What God is challenging or showing you through the material. How we can pray for you. And of course, you’re welcome to send in quirky questions, too, since I’ll be interacting with them throughout our time together. Leave your thoughts at MargaretFeinberg.com or on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using #ScoutingtheDivine.
- Gather. Set a time to meet with your small group face-to-face, schedule a Skype date with your long-distance friends, and join the online community on Wednesday, July 15th at MargaretFeinberg.com.
Leave your requests as a comment below so we can be praying with and for you!
*This week’s memory verse: Philippians 1:6
“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
[1] Cox, Jeff. From Vines to Wines. Storey Publishing, 1999, p. 49.
This season of life is giving me opportunity to pause and reflect on my surroundings. Through the Scouting the Divine study, I have become more aware of bees, sheep, and vineyards. I watch in amazement at bees on my flowers on the back deck. I am seeing photos of sheep in emails, blog posts, t.v. shows, etc. I am noticing grape vines in photos and in fields. Even my sister has a grapevine that is giving me joy just watching the grapes mature. Taking the time to pause and reflect on the beauty and blessings that God gives us each day is a marvelous thing to do. Thank you Margaret for this study. God Bless You! 🙂
I love that your eyes are open to scouting the Divine everywhere you look, Melissa.