It is so often the "little foxes" that hinder us from receiving all that God has purposed for us. A vineyard in the Bible was of great significance. Those fortunate enough to have a vineyard were able to pass it down to their children as an inheritance. Jesus described Himself as the vine.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener...I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:1&5
The devil does not want us to bear fruit, so he will send the little foxes to eat the fruit we bear. A little fox cannot get to the branches, but he will devour the fruit that is within his reach. It is when we are starting to bloom and bear fruit, thinking we are safe, that the little issues creep in, stealing what we have produced.
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A vineyard |
For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. 2 Corinthians 12:20
Paul was upset about the all the sins the Christians in Corinth were perpetrating. He not only pointed out to them their lack of repentance for the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they had indulged (2 Corinthians 12:21), but he considered their quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder as major problems. How frequently we overlook these matters that were of great concern to Paul as just minor character flaws. Yet, they obstruct the growth of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
If we are quarrelsome, prone to jealousy, easily angered, part of a clique, speak falsely against others, talk idly, filled with pride and give in to confusion, then we cannot bear the fruit of the Spirit. Our actions show that we are disconnected from Jesus, the True Vine. His Spirit cannot and will not remain in us as He is Holy. He will be around us and can work in our lives, but He may not be comfortable residing in us as He prefers to inhabit pure, clean hearts.
We need to ask God to reveal to us the "little foxes" in our lives as they are obstructing our spiritual growth. Pruning is also essential. Therefore, we must allow Our Father, the Gardener, to have His way with us, cutting away all our dead and drying areas so we can flourish.
Our minds are generally where we combat the devil's devices. Nevertheless, God has not left us without weaponry. He has equipped us with the Sword of the Spirit to withstand the menacing "little foxes" that scamper our way.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:8, 1 Peter 1:13 and Philippians 4:7
The vineyard God has given us is our hearts and minds. We must guard them so that the fruit of the Spirit will be safe from the "little foxes," as this is the fruit that we will use to feed a dying world in order to give them life through Jesus.
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