Heard It on the Grapevine

You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

– 1 Thessalonians 1:6

Recorded in an era when agriculture was the livelihood of most people, the Bible is full of references to the planting, harvesting, and storage of crops. It’s therefore no surprise that the crowds that followed Jesus from village to village were familiar with the imagery of fruitfulness in his parable called The Sower. They knew a thing or two about cultivation. And their ability to grow a thriving crop each year despite drought and pestilence could mean the difference between starvation and plenty.

A related biblical theme addresses mankind’s need for a thriving relationship with its Creator. That’s because without him, nothing — spiritual or physical — can grow to fruition.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener,” Jesus tells us through John’s gospel. “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”

Let’s now fast-forward to the 21st century — a dynamic era driven by technology and industry. But agriculture, from the largest factory-farm to the smallest backyard plot, is still vital. And professional and amateur farmers alike continue to seek the tools, fertilizers, and other supplies that will make their fields and gardens thrive. They know that with enough time and effort, the harvest will be both bountiful and satisfying.  

The same goes for cultivating our church into the thriving group of Believers our Creator would have us to be. That’s also a process that takes both time and effort. But unlike a vegetable garden that eventually withers and dies with the first frosts of autumn, a Spirit-filled church — despite the hardships it faces — produces good fruit marked by faith, love, and patient endurance.  

How about you? Are you cultivating a fruitful relationship with God, reading your Bible, and helping others do the same? Work awaits every Believer in the fields. So, as we gather our spiritual gardening tools for the task at hand, let’s embrace Jesus’ familiar words from Matthew’s gospel: 

“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”

Boom or Bust

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’”

– Exodus 32: 7-8

Steve Emptman. Brian Bosworth. Curtis Enis. Tony Mandarich.

If you’re not a football fan or a trivia buff, you’ve probably never heard of them. All four were college gridiron stars who demonstrated tremendous athletic potential and wowed the NFL scouts. All were drafted into the league with grand hopes of making it to the Super Bowl. All failed — and failed miserably, many would say — to live up to the hype. And they were all BUSTS because they couldn’t meet the unrealistic expectations of their teams and fans.

Oddly enough, the failures of Bosworth, Mandarich, and their underachieving peers made them IDOLS … at least in a biblical sense. That’s because an idol is anything that replaces God on the throne of our heart. An idol might be a car, house, money, career — or even food or a hobby. Even seemingly good things like college and pro sports can become idols if they’re abused. And it’s when a good thing becomes a god-like thing that we fall into the snare of idolatry.

Like sports stars, regular people — including spouses, friends, children, and significant others — can also become idols. And since they’re fault-filled human beings rather than our faultless God, they always turn out to be busts. After all, we build them up unrealistically and treat them as our reason for living.

The saying goes that we’re only human. Unfortunately, bad things happen when we forget God’s grace and replace our Creator with people as the source of our security, worth, and happiness. So rather than putting our family and friends on an idol’s pedestal, let’s put our relationships in order by making Jesus, who was God in the flesh, Priority #1. As Jeremiah 17:5 reminds us:

This is what the LORD says: Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD. 

Conversations with God

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

– 2 Corinthians 12:9

Christ-followers enjoy many special privileges, and one of the greatest is the ability to approach God in prayer about our blessings, troubles, concerns — and everything else that’s going on in our life. Prayer is a give-and-take conversation. And it’s all possible through our faith in his Son, Jesus. As Psalm 145:18 assures us:

“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.”

But this raises an important question: If we have such a special relationship with our Creator, why is it that some of our prayers go unanswered? After all, there are times when even the most seasoned Christ-follower feels like their petitions go no higher than the bedroom ceiling.

Let’s keep in mind that prayer is like a phone call. Sometimes the message comes through loud and clear — as if the other person is standing right next to us. But sometimes there’s static … or the call gets disconnected or doesn’t go through at all. So, what's the problem? 

First, we must ensure that the line is clear by dealing with any unconfessed sin in our life. After all, the One who created us is already aware of our every thought and deed. Likewise, if we’re carrying a grudge against someone — like a spouse or co-worker — it needs to be ironed out before we can expect God to listen to us. And faith also plays a significant role. If we pray but don’t think God has the power or desire to deal with our issues, why even ask in the first place?

What about those times when we pray sincerely and with good intentions, but our prayers still go unanswered? The short answer is that God DOES answer every one of them. But sometimes his response is “no” or “not now.” As the Creator of all things past, present, and future, he knows the big picture — those people, places, and circumstances that make all the difference to our situation. And although it's not always apparent to us at the time, God's plans for us are always the best. He knows that it’s not always what we want that matters, but ultimately, it's all about what we NEED. So, with that in mind, let’s embrace the apostle Paul’s call to Believers like you and me through 1 Thessalonians 5:16 – 18:

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

 

Stress Test

“Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.”

– Exodus 25:8

Are you feeling stressed these days? If so, you’re not alone.

According to a 2025 report from Modern Health, 75% of survey respondents reported experiencing some form of low mood — largely driven by politics and current events — and 74% said they want mental health resources specifically addressing global political turmoil. What’s more, almost half of them said that life was easier during the COVID-19 pandemic than it is today!

Joseph and Mary, Jesus’ earthly parents, also knew a thing or two about stress. After all, they experienced emotional stress from the scandalous rumors swirling around her pregnancy. They endured physical stress from the grueling trip to Bethlehem mandated by the Roman census. And with money in short supply, financial stress was always in the picture. Can you relate?

But God had a plan for them … as well as one for you and me. Psalm 139 reveals that our Creator knew us before we were ever formed in our mother’s womb. He also knew when and where we’d be born, what sort of life we’d lead, and when we’d die. And since we consistently break his laws and fall short of his standards of perfection, he also knew that we'd need someone to save us from the well-deserved consequences of our transgressions. We’re powerless to do that ourselves. That’s why God decided to do it by living out the human experience on Earth through his Son, Jesus. He was the long-prophesied Emmanuel: God with us.

It's because he endured unimaginable stress (and so much more) for our sakes 2,000 years ago that Jesus relates to us in the 21st century. What’s more, he dwells with us today — and he’ll be with us always. So, if politics, current events, and daily living are elevating your stress levels, you can rest assured through Christ’s proclamation in John’s gospel: 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”