Food to Eat

Food to Eat
THE FRUIT OF THE HARVEST
Terry R. Baughman

“Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?” (1 Corinthians 9:7).

God provided an abundance in His creation. Vegetation abounds through out the flora. Grain is harvested for bread, meal, and a wide variety of food products. Rice is plentiful in many areas of the world and provides a staple for meals in some of the most impoverished regions of the globe. A large variety of fruit is plentiful with a diversity of trees and vines. Vegetables grow in abundance where the weather is suitable and the produce is harvested and shipped to distant places. A visit to the local produce market will reveal the production of farms from many locations. It is no wonder that the horn of plenty is often used as a symbol of thanksgiving and the season of harvest. 

The fruit of the harvest provides food to eat. It is what sustains life and provides vital nutrients to the wellbeing of humanity. Those who labor in the production of food enjoy the fruit of their labor and then sell or trade from the abundance to provide for all their needs. 

Fruitfulness is so common in agriculture that no wonder Jesus had harsh words for the fig tree that was barren. In all of nature, fruitfulness is expected. A harvest comes every season and the tree or vine’s purpose is to produce fruit. The fruitless tree dried up and died after the Lord spoke against it. His Word has power to bring life and His curse results in death. 

Jesus came to speak life and fruitfulness in our lives. Not only do we live by the fruitfulness of a natural harvest, we also find spiritual sustenance in the power of His voice speaking life. 

Isaiah declared the Word of the Lord, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:9–11).

The Word goes forth with power just like the inherent power of the biosphere. As much as the world exists in the beautiful balance of nature providing all living things with such extravagance, so also God will provide for every spiritual need and blessing to all those who look to Him.

Another prophet predicted a famine on the land. He indicated that there would come a time of famine, however, it would not be a lack of food or drink, but for hearing of the Word of the Lord. The Lord said, “I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord” (Amos 8:11).

May we be attentive to the Word of the Lord and ready to receive His food to eat. It is powerful, enduring, and full of promise. Prosper in its provision and grow in its truth. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). 
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Theme passage:
“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

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